Following a global trend in countries including Russia and France, several studios have recently opened in Israel where you can practice yoga together with puppies. However, some advanced countries, such as the Netherlands, Ireland and Great Britain, forbid or impose restrictions on the trend, which may be look good in photos but may harm the welfare of animals to the point of abuse. In Israel, unlike those countries, there is no legislation that supervises or regulates puppy yoga or puppy yoga centers.
One of the centers is on Allenby Street in Tel Aviv. In a building that was built even before the establishment of the state, there is a place where you can practice yoga with cute puppies. But a Ynet checkof the center reveals that, some of the time, the cute puppies are in a cage or in closed rooms. The Tel Aviv Municipality confirmed that at this stage the business is operating without a license, but in the absence of legislation on the subject they do not see a problem with its continued operation, in which puppies run around while people practice yoga.
The Tel Aviv municipality reported that "an audit was conducted by the municipal veterinary service at the Puppy Yoga business and after examination and consultation with the authorities responsible for animal welfare, no evidence of harm to the welfare of the puppies was found. We note that, as part of rest, transport and training, a dog can be confined in a cage for a short period of time without fear of harming its well-being. The health of the dogs in the business is monitored by a veterinarian who files a monthly report. In addition to veterinary department activity, a request to file for a license will be submitted to the owners of the business."
The ministry responded to an inquiry from Ynet in a statement: "The Ministry of Agriculture considers maintaining the welfare of animals to be important and handles a wide variety of inquiries in this area. The case was brought to our attention following your inquiry, and upon opening an invetigation into the subject, the professional authorities will examine the matter in depth."
Legislation may still be expected soon. Knesset member Yasmin Sacks-Friedman of the Yesh Atid party said the puppies are being exploited.
"Once again we are witnessing the exploitation of animals in order to put money in people's pockets. What else will we invent to exploit the animals? Apparently these are purebred puppies that come from a cruel and exploitative industry, which I am working around the clock to outlaw as well. In the absence of enforcement or care from government offices, I call on the public to show responsibility and compassion and stop cooperating with any industry or gimmick in which animals are exploited."
The world is starting to wake up
As mentioned, doggy yoga is a trend that is gaining momentum around the world, but animal rights groups are concerned about the well-being of the puppies involved in the apparently fun activity. While several countries in Europe have already imposed a complete ban on the activity, citing animal abuse. Animal welfare organizations around the world are working against the trend, in which it is not clear what happens to the cute puppies when they grow up and how, for example, a new "supply" of puppies arrives.
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Animal rights organizations are concerned for the puppies that join yoga clases
(Photo: Shutterstock)
The trend has been panned by animal rights organizations including in Ireland and England, where opposition to the activity has been loud, particularly from organizations such as Husky Rescue and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, which points to the possible dangers to the animals, including disruption of the sleep cycles of the puppies, undue pressure on them and use of unvaccinated puppies. In Italy the activity has already been banned by the Ministry of Health due to claims of abuse of the dogs, as well as a claim that this type of activity harms the well-being of the dogs and only brings financial benefits to the people who manage them; A compromise has been struck in which such activity is permitted only using adult dogs. In Holland, groups are calling to ban not only yoga with dogs, but with any animal of any kind. At the same time, an ITV News investigation found that some of the dogs are at "serious risk" from sleep deprivation and limited access to water and food.
Animal rights organizations in several countries around the world have come out with a call to stop the activity and choose alternative activities instead.
"Puppy yoga is a so-called wellness trend where litters of puppies are drafted in to join human yoga classes. Many puppy yoga organizers say the classes help socialise the animals, but we’re concerned that it is not good for the puppies’ welfare," Esme Wheeler, a dog welfare specialist at the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, told Country Living.
"Sadly, puppy yoga has gained more traction as time has gone on, with people thinking that it is ‘cute’, but the puppies – sometimes younger than eight weeks – can be overwhelmed and frightened. It can have such a detrimental effect on their welfare, and we're really worried the popularity of this trend is being fueled by social media," she added.
'The little puppies bring joy and love'
At the business in Tel Aviv, they actually think that this is good for the puppies.
"I can understand how it looks from the outside, as far as the well-being of the puppies is concerned, but it is important for me to clarify that everything is transparent," clarified Melissa Nabet, co-director of Puppy Yoga Tel Aviv. "The little puppies bring joy and love, and one of the goals is that other people can enjoy all this goodness. The whole goal is that other people can also enjoy this goodness, which makes the yoga class a therapeutic experience for everything. Just as there are emotional therapies with horses, it also can be done with puppies."
Nabet emphasizes that the combination of yoga and puppies is beneficial to the small dogs, who play and receive endless love from different people, and also to the exercisers - which enhances the experience and makes it unique.
"For us, the well-being of the puppies is very important, and therefore we structure the classes in such a way that the puppies are comfortable, without harming them. One of us always takes care of them during the classes to make sure that the participants treat them properly, and if it is necessary to comment on the way they are held or treated, we do this without thinking twice," she explained. "Between classes the puppies rest in their room with food, water and full supervision. Therefore, no mental or physical damage is caused to the puppies, who receive all the necessary vaccinations and treatments."
According to Nabet, the puppies live part of the time with the staff members, and part of the time in a boarding facility in Ra'anana. "The dedicated staff makes sure that each puppy receives the proper treatment, with all the puppies growing up like brothers and creating a kind of family environment. At the end of each class, the participants are given the opportunity to learn more about the dogs and, in cooperation with the association, will be able to consider adopting a dog. We believe that these initiatives will give the dogs a chance for a new life with loving families."
Regarding the lack of a business license, she said: "We are taking into account the question regarding a business license for the activity we perform. Initially, when we opened the center, we understood from meetings at the municipality that a yoga and pilates studio is not required to have a specific business license, even with the use of puppies, because the puppies are not there all day, but only for up to three hours. Recently, a veterinarian came to visit the studio on behalf of the municipality, who checked that everything was being done appropriately, and at the end of the visit a signed approval was issued. Now we are working on the issue with the municipal authorities."
Another business that operates in the field of yoga with puppies is Guna House in Herzliya. Itay Belleli, who manages the place, said that he and his colleagues in the business are not aware that countries in the world prohibit yoga with puppies.
"There is no such prohibition in Israel, but it is important for me to make it clear that in our activity no mental or physical harm is caused to the puppies," he said. "The puppies are in the villa under supervision and care according to the guidelines of the S.O.S. Hayut - The Association for the Sake of Animals. The puppies visit the yoga classes that last about an hour to an hour and a half, during which there is a company representative who takes care of them even during this short activity. It is important to say that the puppies do not take part in the yoga exercises."
Belleli added that the puppies are under the responsibility of the S.O.S. Hayut association, and come to the association's adoption day in order to find adoptive homes. Regarding the issue of licensure, Belleli explains that the business does not require a license.
"The puppies who come to the yoga classes are at the foster family's home during the week like all the puppies of the association, where they receive a lot of warmth, love and dedicated care. The puppies come to a short yoga class from the foster home, where all their needs are taken care of with the help of the local representative, which is his sole role during the class," says Dafna Deuel, director of marketing, volunteers and community relations at the S.O.S. Hayut association, who emphasizes that this is a fun activity for both the puppies and the participants of the yoga class. She adds that the yoga exercises "are done without the puppies, so they are not in danger."
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