On Thursday, acting on a complaint by a citizen vigilante along with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, the Thane rural police at Padgha and PETA seized three starving pedigree dogs — a Doberman, Rottweiler and Boxer — from what they claim was an “illegal” pet boarding facility in Kalyan. PETA volunteers claimed it was not registered with the Maharashtra State Animal Welfare Board.

The volunteers further said that the canines were reduced to “skin and bone and the dogs between the age of 1 and 1.5 years were in deplorable condition, and suffering from anaemia.” PETA India Manager of Veterinary Services, Dr Rashmi Gokhale, cited a slew of sections under which constant confinement amounting to cruelty against dogs is an offence in law. She also enumerated a number of violations under different sections of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, like not providing an animal with enough food.