Dozens of exotic Siberian Huskies found abandoned in Hyderabad's scorching heat

Hyderabad: In a disturbing case of alleged organised animal cruelty, dozens of Siberian Huskies, an exotic breed built for Arctic temperatures, were seen abandoned on the outskirts of Hyderabad earlier this month.

They were left to survive the punishing summer heat with no food, water, or shelter. The issue came to light on Wednesday as a group of animal welfare volunteers rescued these canines and shifted to shelter homes.

The dogs were offloaded from a truck under the cover of night, reportedly on April 20 or 21, along the Shankarpally–Patancheru road on the city's western side.

Eyewitnesses say as many as 40 huskies were seen being unloaded from a van in the dark. Since then, many have scattered into the surrounding scrubland; others wandered into nearby residential areas.

In more than a week since, temperatures in Telangana have hovered above 40°C, conditions that are, for this breed, potentially fatal.

The crisis came to light after a young attendant at a local petrol station noticed a husky approaching him, visibly desperate for water.

Word spread to animal rights groups, and volunteers from the Aasra Foundation and Swan NGO were quickly pressed into action. What they found was grim.

One dog had already died, its body left in the dirt. Several others were in critical condition, suffering from severe dehydration and acute heat stress.

Around eight dogs have since been rescued and are currently receiving treatment. Some were picked up by passing motorists and the fate of the rest remains unknown.

"This wasn't a mistake. It was an organised disposal," said Gauri Vandana, founder of the Aasra Foundation. "Given the sheer number of purebred dogs, we strongly suspect a local breeder or a private facility used these animals for illegal testing or mass breeding. Once they were no longer useful, they were discarded in a place where they were never meant to survive," Gauri Vandana told DH.

Vandana also flagged a more alarming possibility. "We don't know if someone injected a virus and released these animals onto the streets. The police must investigate this urgently."

The abandoned dogs range from one to four years of age. Siberian Huskies are among the more expensive breeds available in India, with pups typically priced upwards of Rs 25,000.

Animal rights activists said the breed has increasingly become a status symbol among affluent urban buyers, many of whom keep them exclusively in air-conditioned environments, a stark contrast to the conditions in which these dogs were found.

"Rearing a Husky has become a status symbol," said one activist. "Many owners keep them only in air-conditioned spaces. They have no idea what these animals endure when that privilege is taken away," a rescuer told DH.

The rescuers are clear about what the abandonment means for a breed like this. Huskies carry thick double coats evolved for the Siberian tundra.

In 40°C heat, with no water source in sight and real estate development having stripped the area of any natural water bodies, the animals were effectively left to perish.

"Abandoning a Husky in this heat isn't just neglect, it's a death sentence," said Vandana. "Their thick coats are designed for the Arctic. Here, they are literally cooking from the inside out," she added.

The rescued animals remain in fragile condition and require sustained medical attention. Activists are now appealing to the public for information.

Anyone who witnessed a truck offloading dogs near Shankarpally on the night of April 20 or 21, or who has knowledge of a breeding facility or kennel that recently shut down operations, is urged to come forward and assist with the investigation.