Animal lovers express concern about unethical treatment of street dogs

Animal lovers have flagged concerns about the growing tendency among people to attack stray dogs due to fear of getting bitten after the recent fatal attacks by canines on humans, especially children, reported from elsewhere in the country.

Animal lovers have flagged concerns over the growing tendency among people to attack stray dogs due to fear of getting bitten, after the recent fatal attacks by canines on humans, especially children, reported from elsewhere in the country.

They are complaining that people are resorting to violence against abandoned canines as they feel assault could deter the animal from attacking humans. There have been several reports about stray dogs getting injured after being attacked by people.

Activist and squad member of Puducherry government’s ABC programme, K. Balasubramanian said there is a growing tendency among the people to treat dogs more suspiciously. There is an effort to portray street dogs as dangerous animals. In fact, they are guardians of streets in several places, he added.

“Just a few days ago we received complaints about dogs roaming in Nellithope area with human inflicted wounds. We have taken up the issue with authorities. The dogs live with the wounds and some of them die without getting proper treatment, “ he said.

Socialising stray dogs by feeding them with food and water is the best way to keep them calm and as friends of the community, he said adding the long-term solution to reduce their population was proper implementation of the provisions of Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001 for sterilization and immunization, he said.

G. Ashok Raj, a civil engineer and president for Voice for Voiceless, complains that unethical ways adopted by people to dislodge dogs from localities are surfacing from several places.

Mr. Raj wrote to the Chief Secretary last week pointing out instances of cruel methods being used to catch stray canines.