An Industry Experiencing Explosive Growth
The numbers paint a clear picture of a cultural shift. India's pet care market, valued at over USD 2.3 billion in 2025, is expanding rapidly, with some projections expecting it to grow at a compound annual rate of 8% or more. This growth is driven by
rising disposable incomes, urbanisation, and a profound change in attitude, especially among millennials and Gen Z, who increasingly view pets as cherished family members rather than mere animals. This has led to a surge in demand for everything from premium foods and grooming services to pet insurance and daycare. But this enthusiasm is running headfirst into a fragmented and largely unregulated landscape, creating a 'buyer beware' market where passion often outweighs protection.
The Pet Food Puzzle
For any pet owner, the primary concern is nutrition. Yet, the pet food sector in India operates in a regulatory grey area. A significant portion of the market is met by imports, which are generally required to meet the standards of their country of origin. However, for domestically produced food, the framework is far less stringent. The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has set benchmarks (IS 11968:2019), but compliance is voluntary, not mandatory. This leaves a gap where manufacturers are not legally bound to uniform standards for ingredients, nutritional value, or labelling. Pet parents are often left guessing about the quality of the food they buy, a stark contrast to the stringent regulations governing human food products.
The Unregulated World of Breeding
The demand for purebred dogs and cats has fuelled a dark and often cruel industry of puppy and kitten mills. While the government introduced the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Dog Breeding and Marketing) Rules in 2017, enforcement is weak and inconsistent. Many breeders operate illegally, prioritising profit over animal welfare. These facilities often subject animals to horrific conditions, leading to severe health and behavioural problems in the offspring that unsuspecting families later bring into their homes. The lack of mandatory licensing and regular inspections allows this exploitative trade to thrive just beneath the surface, turning the desire for a specific breed into a potential endorsement of animal cruelty.
A Gamble on Grooming and Services
Beyond food and breeding, the service sector—including grooming, boarding, and training—is also booming. However, there are no uniform national certification standards or licensing requirements for these professionals. A pet groomer or trainer is not required to have any formal qualification, meaning the safety and well-being of a pet can depend entirely on the individual's unverified experience and ethics. Similarly, pet shops, which are meant to be regulated under the Pet Shop Rules of 2018, often operate without the required registration from State Animal Welfare Boards. This lack of oversight means conditions can vary drastically, from clean and professional to neglectful and dangerous.
The Path to Accountability
Closing these gaps requires a multi-pronged approach. Animal welfare advocates argue that making existing standards, like those for pet food, mandatory instead of voluntary is a critical first step. Strengthening the enforcement of breeding and pet shop rules, with consistent inspections and meaningful penalties, is essential to shut down illegal operators. There is also a growing call for creating national certification programmes for groomers and trainers to establish a baseline of quality and safety. On the veterinary front, while the Veterinary Council of India sets standards for practitioners, ensuring access to qualified care, especially in semi-urban and rural areas, remains a challenge.
