The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has stepped in to check culling of stray dogs in the country. Kerala is presently on the scanner of the board following the recent cases of killing of stray dogs in the State and further initiatives to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.
It has launched a Kerala street dog culling tip line, offering a reward up to Rs10,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction of those who kill dogs. Further, It has filed complaint against ‘Theruvu Naaya Unmoolana Sangam’ (Stray Dog Eradication Group) in Kerala that supported the move to cull stray dogs in the State.
AWBI in its complaint has alleged that the group and industrialist Kochouseph Chittilappilly were involved in illegally catching stray dogs in one of the panchayats of the district and sought action against people connected with it.
According to Gauri Maulekhi, co-opted member, AWBI, The law prohibits killing of dogs or dislocation of dogs. Any such killing of animal is a cognisable offence under the Indian Penal Code. The orders from the Police Department and the Department of local Self Government clearly state that any killing of dogs will interfere with the Government programme and will be completely illegal.
She further added that anyone who kills or dislocates dogs will be causing severe damage to the safety and health of the people of that area and it is the duty of every responsible citizen to call on the tip-line number and inform if any illegal killing of dogs are being planned or executed. According to her, scientific method of animal birth control is the solution to end street dog problem.”
The street dog menace in Kerala has assumed alarming proportions, compelling the state administration to work out ways to tackle the problem. As per the state figures, nearly 1.06 lakh people in the state were bitten by dogs, during 2014-15.