Plight of street dogs reported to PMO
Joy for Animals (JFA), a government registered animal welfare organization, has sent a letter to the Prime Minister Office and to Dr O.P. Chaudhary (IFS), Chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) regarding the plight of street dogs in tricity region.
The letter to PMO (communication number PMOPG/E/2019/0512301) states that the “situation is worst in housing societies, because apartment owners and dogs do not have pleasant engagement as was in pre-90’s era. In the absence of basic resources i.e. food, water, shelter, the community dogs often remain hungry, get crushed on the roads or get attacked by cruel people.
The Residents Welfare Associations (RWA’s) are mostly hostile towards community dogs. For instance, in Satyam Apartments, Tower E in Swastik Vihar, Zirakpur the RWA office bearers dumped six newly born pups in garbage area on 3rd August, 2019. When the pups reappeared after their mother’s persistence, two more pups have been missing now from the parking area of the society. The fate of these pups is not known. However, one of the remaining pups is temporarily being fostered by JFA volunteers.
Narvijay Yadav, Founder, Joy for Animals, wrote in the letter, “Such incidents are a routine in our country. I am pained to write that the situation is worsening day by day, because there is hardly any organisational support available for the dog feeders or animal lovers. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 needs amendment to make the punishment harsher.”
Meanwhile, another local animal welfare organisation, Furever Friends has reported a case of relocation of seven just-born pups, who were thrown out on road by some unknown person. Mr Vikas Luthra, founder, Furever Friends, said, “We pups were rescued by our team last night and we are searching for the culprit and the unfortunate mother.”
Numerous similar cases are reported everyday at other NGO’s too, including the People for Animals (PFA-Chandigarh) and Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).
Plight of street dogs reported to PMO
It is important to note, that animal cruelty is an offence – under section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, and Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code – punishable with imprisonment and fine.
