The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is an Act by the Parliament of India enacted to prevent the infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering on animals. As per the provisions under this law, the Animal Welfare Board of India was created.
While the Act deals with prevention of cruelty towards all animals, dogs (both street dogs and household pets) are covered with special mention.
This Act defines treating animals with cruelly: if any person:
(a) beats, kicks, over-rides, over-drives, over-loads, tortures or otherwise treats any animal so as to subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering or causes or, being the owner permits, any animal to be so treated; or
(b) keeps for an unreasonable time any animal chained or tethered upon an unreasonably short or unreasonably heavy chain or cord; or
(c) being the owner, neglects to exercise or cause to be exercised reasonably any dog habitually chained up or kept in close confinement; or
(d) being the owner of 1 [any animal] fails to provide such animal with sufficient food, drink or shelter; or
(i) without reasonable cause, abandons any animal in circumstances which render it likely that it will suffer pain by reason of starvation or thirst;
and more such actions, then the person shall be punishable.
Read all the points that count towards animal cruelty, and the resulting State Amendments by clicking on the link below.