In India, it’s 45 degrees outside. The streets are baking, fans are whirring, and in one Indian city after another, the heatwave feels endless. And this isn’t it — the worst is yet to come. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast severe heat wave conditions across large parts of the country till later this month.And in the middle of all this, a post about a tired-looking Siberian Husky has gone viral. All of a sudden, everyone’s arguing about what it really means to “love” dogs.
‘To keep or not to keep’: What’s happening?
It started with a single social media post. Pratish Sharma took to X (formerly, Twitter) and made a post complaining about his neighbor’s Husky. He revealed that the dog spends all day in an air-conditioned bedroom because, frankly, the outdoor heat would be deadly otherwise.“Now during 45°C summers, the dog has to stay inside an AC room just to survive. Even in the evening, it struggles with the heat outside. People say they love dogs, but then buy breeds that are not even meant for Indian weather, mostly for status and show off,” the post read.Sharma’s take was blunt: people buy fancy, cold-weather breeds like Huskies to flex, not because they’re thinking about what the dog actually needs. In his words, “If you genuinely love dogs, adopt a stray. India already has millions of dogs that are naturally adapted to this climate.”That revelation and genuine concern lit a fire.Within days, thousands jumped into the debate, fighting over whether it’s cruel to keep an Arctic breed in the tropics, why Indian street dogs, also known as “indies,” get ignored, and what’s driving the country’s obsession with ‘exotic’ breeds anyway.
Huskies in India : Right decision or wrong?
First, let’s talk Huskies. They were bred to survive Siberia — think blowing snow, ice, long months of bitter cold. Their double-layered fur actually works like a sleeping bag, keeping warmth in and the harsh world out.Now, imagine putting a breed that’s meant for harsh winters in scorching Indian summers!That same coat becomes a problem when temperatures soar past 40 degrees. Indian summers hit them with a biological nightmare.As NDTV reported, veterinarians warn, over and over, that Huskies and similar breeds melt down fast in this weather. They’re at risk for heatstroke, dehydration — the kind of problems that have animal clinics booked solid every year. To keep these dogs comfortable in India, people resort to round-the-clock AC, elaborate grooming, walks at dawn (if at all), and constant vigilance. It costs real money and real time.However, the argument here is even bigger than the Huskies.
The ethics of petkeeping
The more India falls for imported dog breeds, whether Saint Bernards, Chow Chows, or Malamutes, the more animal welfare advocates worry that dogs are becoming just another status symbol. A dog in a high-rise isn’t always someone’s best friend; sometimes, it’s a photo prop or a lifestyle tag.So there’s this obvious ethical question: what matters more — the way a pet looks, or what that animal needs to live a good life? A dog isn’t just cute or impressive. It’s a living being, wired for a certain climate and rhythm, and it can suffer deeply if those needs aren’t met.In fact, social media agrees to this argument. One user commented on Instagram, “Indians are basically not animal lovers. They keep huskies and labs and Persian cats as a status symbol.. That’s it..They aren’t doing it to benefit a needy.. They are doing it to show how affluent they are,” while another pointed out, “Unfortunately, our Indies are being persecuted by media, govt and the people. Shout nationalism but target the minorities and the most vulnerable that belong to this country – height of hypocrisy.”While one user questioned, “Why are we accepting this notion that keeping a husky or any other foreign breed is equivalent to a higher status?” another wrote, “indian dog lovers are hollow from inside. They won’t adopt Indian stray. They want show-off.”
Pet caregiving 101
The questions regarding pet-caregiving have even sharper edges in a country that, every year, abandons expensive, imported dogs when the novelty wears off. Not long ago, a cluster of huskies, presumably bought as puppies, was left to survive the Hyderabad heat when their owners lost interest.Meanwhile, Indian shelters are packed, mostly with the very dogs best adapted to the local climate: the mixed-breed “indies” that have survived in the wild for generations.That’s what makes “adopt a stray” more than a slogan. Indian indies — the street dogs, basically — have the right coats, digestion, and immune systems to handle harsh summers, monsoons, and city life. They’re resilient, usually need less medical care, and — let’s be honest — they’re everywhere, just hoping for a chance.Despite all that, the imported breeds win out, mostly on “looks” and “status.” Social media shows off the fancy dogs while real compassion often turns up behind the scenes, in small, unsung moments.
Is it wrong to keep a Husky in India?
There’s no objective answer to this question. However, vets and activists agree on this: if you’re getting a dog in a place like India, you need to understand what you’re getting into, and the animal’s needs have to come first — not last.The question looms even larger as summers get hotter, as climate change turns “unusual” heat into the new normal.Because, at the end of the day, it is about loving and caring for animals you keep and nurture as pets. It’s not about how much you spend or the breed’s Instagram appeal. It’s about choosing the right companion for your life, your climate, and your willingness to give them what they actually need.
