Five Dogs Rescued from Jyoti Circus in Sakti, Following Intervention by PETA India & Vatika Animal Sanctuary

Acting on video evidence showing Indian Spitz dogs being illegally used for performances by Jyoti Circus which was recently camped at the Dabhra Mela in Sakti district, Chhattisgarh, Dr Kiran Ahuja of PETA India led a joint intervention with Vatika Animal Sanctuary and support of Sakti Police to successfully rescue the animals. The circus was using the dogs for stage performances in violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and the Delhi High Court order dated 09 February 2022, which directed action against unregistered circuses. Vatika Animal Sanctuary founders Kasturi Ballal and Sankalp Gaidhani led the raid with Dr Ahuja, and volunteers Vanchana Laban, Deepesh Mourya and Urja Shringarpure also played key roles. Five dogs were relinquished to the animal protection activists and will soon be put up for adoption. PETA India is grateful to Superintendent of Police, Sakti, Shri Prafulla Thakur, IPS, for the prompt action, making this rescue possible.

The circus was using the dogs without the mandatory Performing Animals Registration Certificate (PARC) as required under the Performing Animals (Registration) Rules, 2001 (PARR, 2001), framed under the PCA Act, 1960.

The footage received by PETA India showed the dogs positioned on individual plastic chairs within the performance area, with a man acting as ringmaster directing the animals through hand gestures and commands. Four of the dogs were made to walk on their hind legs in a linear formation – an unnatural posture forced through prior training and control.

Several Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) inspections and numerous investigations by PETA India prove that all animal circuses are cruel. Even in circuses with valid PARCs, animals have been found chained or confined to small, barren cages when not being used for performances. Animals in circuses are typically deprived of adequate veterinary care, food, water, and shelter, and are forced to perform tricks through punishment. Many animals in circuses display stereotypic, repetitive behaviour indicative of extreme stress.