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To protect tiger reserves, govt may acquire private estates

2012-03-01T18:33:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: R VasundaraR Vasundara, TNN

CHENNAI: The Union ministry of environment and forests is planning to strengthen its tiger conservation programme in the Western Ghats and reduce man-animal conflicts by acquiring private estates that border or are within tiger reserves in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The proposal, put up during a meeting of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife, includes acquisition of several estates in the Periyar Tiger Reserve area (in Thekkady, Kerala ) and Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve (in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu).

Twelve private estates in the KMTR, measuring about 1,500 hectares, have been identified for acquisition, said Tamil Nadu officials. "Most estates are part of the core reserve and need to be acquired to reduce disturbance caused by the movement of human beings and vehicles," an official said. "The plan is still in the paperwork stages and yet to obtain the state government's approval . The funding for acquiring the estates, however, will come from the Central government."

It was proposed during the meeting to eventually acquire 23 estates in Tamil Nadu and thus block 18 routes into the Periyar reserve. "This will reduce disturbance in the Periyar reserve," proposed Dr A J T John Singh, a member of the National Board for Wildlife, at the meeting. "This landscape has the potential to support 100 adult tigers, provided the wild prey are protected."

In order to strengthen the tiger conservation programme, the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has proposed to acquire several private estates that border or stand within tiger reserves in the southern range of the Western Ghats . This was suggested during a meeting of the standing committee for the National Board for Wildlife with specific referencetoK alakkad MundanthuraiTiger Reserve (KMTR)in Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, and Periyar Tiger Reserve in Thekkady, Kerala .

In Tamil Nadu, the forest departmenthascomeup with a list of twelve estates that lie in the coreof theKMTR andtherefore must be acquired . Spanning over 895sqkm,the reserveisone of the densest tiger reserves . A part of the reserve lies in the Agasthiyar hills of the Western Ghats . "We are yetto receive approval from the state government," said an official . "Paperwork and preliminary estimates are still going on . Some of the estate owners, who have been informed of the proposal, are trying to negotiate alternatives . Once the state government agrees, it will be forwarded to the Union ministry . The MoEF will be funding the acquisition . This is a long term process involving a large budget . It could take morethan five yearstocomplete ." The twelve estates put together would add up to 15.16 sqkm or 1,516 hectares to the reserve and the acquisition is expected to cost more than Rs 165 crore . "The people are cooperative, but human and vehicle movement in the core area disturbs animal habitations, so they have to be acquired," he said . "We are also looking at increasing the buffer zone for the Anamalai Tiger reserve ."

However, environmentalists portray a different picture . "Thereisdegradation of theforest area in KMTR as many of the people living in these estates gather fuel wood from the reserve," said M Soubadra Devy of Ashoka Trustfor Researchin Ecology and the Environment (ATREE). Soubadra spends several months in a year in the reserve for canopy research . "There is also some small time poaching of creatures like jungle fowl that goes on in this area ." The presence of temples in the reserve also increases the footfallsin the area . "During the Adi Ammavasya festival, this area receives a couple of lakh visitors," she said .

At least three temples have landin the reserves,butofficials hope for a solution that does not involve acquisition .They do not anticipate trouble with the cardamom and tea estates. "Under the guidelines issued by the National Tiger Conservation Authority, we can acquire these areas." However,there are voices of dissent. "Thisestatehasbeen in our family for 60 years andwe attach much sentimental value to it," said Vasanthi Murugadasan, one of the proprietors of Kattlamalai estate. '

The estate is one of the largest in the core reserve that figures in the state's acquisition list. "Besides,we never harm the animals and always help forest officials during the census."

HC notice to BBMP on dog menace

2012-03-01T14:19:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: DHNS

The High Court on Wednesday directed the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Karnataka State Prani Daya Sangha (KSPDS) and others to file objections in connection with a petition filed by a five-year-old boy, victim of a dog attack.

Jishnu, the victim of stray dog attack, along with his mother Vidya P had moved the Court seeking a compensation of Rs five lakh from the Palike for the attack. They had also sought the Court’s direction to the civic agency to clear the garbage and protect the residents from further attacks.

The petitioners in their submission had stated that they live in a residential locality, which is plagued by stray dogs. Several meat shops on the road, which do not dispose of raw meat properly, have been attracting stray dogs.

Further, the petitioners said even though they had complained to the Palike, the dogs were not shifted, but were monitored and released in the same locality resulting in continued danger for the residents.

The petitioners submitted that when they sent a notice to the Palike about the dog bite incident, the Palike dispatched a cheque for Rs 26,500 for the treatment of Jishnu, but failed to respond to the notice.

They have also sought directions to the Palike to split dog packs and establish a website with relevant information for victims of dog bites. The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B V Nagarathna has directed the BBMP, KSPDS and others. Jishnu, a resident of Yelahanka New Town, was attacked by a pack of stray dogs on July 6, 2010. He was rescued after a neighbour saw the dogs attacking him.

Wild fire destroy 500 acres of forest

2012-03-01T02:58:00.002+05:30

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle

A major fire broke out in Nagarhole National Park on Sunday destroying over 500 acres of vegetation. Fire was noticed at Nagarhole, Metikuppe and Balle forest ranges, but luckily no wild animals were killed.

PCCF (Wildlife) B.K. Singh told this newspaper that some vested interest groups within the tribal community may have started the fires.

In fact, in Metikuppe, forest guards saw two people triggering a fire and were chased, but the accused managed to escape.

“We are yet to ascertain the extent of damage”, he said, but unofficial estimates say over 500 acres have been wiped out. Mr Singh said the fires in Metikuppe and Balle were minor and were doused immediately, but extensive damage has taken place in Nagarhole forest range.

Around 60 personnel, including foresters and fire fighters, were deployed to control the fire. “Since, the entire bamboo vegetation has dried out, the fire spread very fast making it difficult to control it”, Mr Singh said. The phenomenon, witnessed every year, destroys flora and fauna in vast tracts of the forest area.

It has not rained in Nagarhole for nearly three months and most parts have gone dry.

Dry weather due to absence of moisture in the air causes the fire spread rapidly.

The department was doing its best to contain the wild fires, Nagarhole DCF Vijay Ranjan Singh said.

HC dismisses PIL asking civic body to act quickly or kill stray dogs

2012-02-28T20:49:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Indian Express

Holding that it is the job of the Municipal Corporation to tackle the menace of stray dogs and that the Municipal Corporation should perform its duty effectively, the Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), on the first hearing itself, seeking directions to control the rising stray dog menace in the city.

A PIL was filed, on Monday, by former Municipal Councillor from Mohali, Kuljit Singh Bedi. The petitioner had highlighted the issue of increasing incidents of dog bite by stray dogs in state capitol region. Counsel for the petitioner, Advocate Ranjivan Singh, had sought directions to civic authorities to take steps to check the menace.

The petitioner contended that the authorities have failed to curb the menace. Referring to existing provisions, the petitioner submitted that if the Municipal Corporation is unable to control the menace, stray dogs should be killed.

Bedi, contended that civic authorities can evoke the provisions of Section 11(3) (b) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 1960, which provides for killing of dogs in legal chambers. Refusing to pass any formal directions in the case, the High Court has asked the civic authorities to take steps to check the menace in accordance to the laws and provisions of the Act.

Beema- as his mother lay dying she looked to us to save him!

2012-02-27T13:19:00.000+05:30

As his mother lay dying she looked to us at CUPA to save him.... Now Beema thinks he is a large dog! Bheema – story of the bull /dog – Calf growing up with dogs !

Bheema’s story is poignant and miraculous.....His mother, a lost or abandoned cow, was found by the local police constable in the middle of Bangalore’s extremely chaotic traffic.... weak, starved and hardly able to drag herself.

After many calls to various animal clinics who would not help, the compassionate policeman was so moved by her condition, since she could not move or walk and sent Bheema’s mother to the CUPA Shelter for care and protection.
Her utter helplessness and vulnerability, offset by her big beautiful and expressive eyes, made her an instant favourite at the shelter. Veterinary examination revealed that not only was she pregnant but seemed to be going into labour pains, even as the vets discussed her condition.

In spite of medications, drips and a dedicated team assisting her, her dehydration and imminent collapse finally overtook the process. She slipped into coma and the vets managed to save the calf, after many tension filled hours.
The dying cows eyes moved everyone....they seemed to be imploring all present to save her calf. Bheema’s entry was pathetic. There was no loving presence of the mother to guide him into the world. As she was unable to lick him, volunteers started rubbing the baby with their hands to warm and clean him of the birth fluids.....Still barely alive, the cow’s gaze was only on the calf. It affected everyone at the shelter.

Bheema has grown up to be a bonny juvenile, taking his cues from the CUPA shelter dogs. He assumes that he is a large dog and tries hard to emulate the dogs in their feeding habits and other activities. Bheema now has many mothers at the shelter who pamper him, as he is gradually develops into a handsome bull. Your donations are needed to help CUPA continue their lifesaving mission.

2 Lovely Pups for Adoption in Bangalore

2012-02-22T14:18:00.000+05:30

2 Lovely pups for adoption in Bangalore:

Pup with the dark markings on the mussel is Female. The lighter, larger pup, is male.

If interested please mail Carol at elevisions@gmail.com

Rescued bulls in Bangalore by CUPA

2012-02-21T03:14:00.000+05:30

On the morning of 26th of October 2011, CUPA was contacted that a truck carrying cattle for slaughter had a malfunction on the Bangalore-Chennai highway and had stalled. Dr. Aditi of CUPA Shelter immediately left with medicines and supplies as the animals needed immediate veterinary help and support.

On arriving at the site along with staff members, they were horrified to see that 3 adult bullocks were recumbent and 1 standing at the side of the road. The small transport van was crammed with 19 bullocks in a pathetic condition. They immediately backed the ambulance and began with the first aid - fluid therapies, analgesics and antibiotics were administered. The animals were lifted into the ambulance and rushed to the CUPA shelter for intensive treatment and care that was required.

The old truck had two tiers with no provision for ventilation and the roof of the carrier section consisted of wooden planks with a thin layer of hay as bedding. The animals’ feet were bound and packed into the vehicle. As there was no provision for ventilation and obviously no provision for food, water and space, most of the animals were dehydrated and hypoxic.

The CUPA team with planks of wood and sheer willpower were skilfully and carefully able to slide the animals down to the lower tier and then once again lower the animals down to the road. Once on the road, they were given water to drink and space to walk.

On returning to the shelter, the animals were administered intravenous fluids, antibiotics and dexamethasone. The bullocks had decubiti wounds on their joints and a few cuts. One bullock had a mass in the right side of the face that was suspected to be an abscess.

After the treatment they were made to rest on the sternal recumbancy and were cooled with water that was poured on them. They were later fed with lush green fodder and concentrates.

After a month of intensive care and treatment at the CUPA facility, the bullocks were transferred to a lifetime care facility, where they will enjoy their last few years without the fear and threat of cruelty and slaughter.

TRAFFIC HELPS TO CLAW BACK ILLEGAL PARROT TRADE IN INDIA

2012-02-20T21:13:00.000+05:30

New Delhi, India, 15^th February 2012—A parrot in captivity is one of the more visible symbols of illegal trade in India, where all native wildlife is fully protected. To help enforcement officers identify native parrot species, and thereby clip the wings of the illegal bird trade, TRAFFIC India with support from WWF-India has produced a identification poster entitled “Parrots of India in Illegal Trade”.

Identification of parrots and other species in trade is a major challenge, but the new poster will help enforcement officers identify the 12 native Indian parrot species. The posters will be distributed to Police, Customs, Forest Departments, Railway Protection Forces, educational institutions such as schools and colleges.

Despite the blanket ban since 1990-91 on trade in all India bird species, hundreds of parrots are collected and traded annually in India.

They are taken from the wild and smuggled to various parts of the country and beyond. The bulk of the trade is in three to four week old chicks.

Parrots are caught using nets and bird-lime. Adult parrots are traded throughout the year, with chicks arriving in trade between December and June. For every bird that reaches the market place, several are believed to die en route.

Of the 12 native species, eight are regularly found being illegally trade. They include Alexandrine, Rose-ringed, Plum-headed, Red-breasted, Malabar, Himalayan and Finsch’s Parakeets and Vernal Hanging-parrot.

For centuries, parrots have been kept as pets mainly because they are straightforward to keep and easy to replace because of the large numbers in trade. This has in turn created demand that has led to an organized illegal trade in parrots.

Abrar Ahmed, ornithologist and a bird trade consultant to TRAFFIC India said, “The Alexandrine Parakeet is one of the most sought after species in the Indian live bird trade and is traded in large volumes throughout the year.

“The chicks are collected from forested areas and transported to bird markets in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Patna, Lucknow and Kolkata.

“Many specimens are smuggled by Indian dealers via Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh to bird markets in various parts of the world”.

“Alarmingly, three species of Indian parrots—Nicobar, Long-tailed & Derby’s Parakeets—are considered by IUCN as Near Threatened with extinction, with illegal trade posing a significant threat.”

MKS Pasha, Co-ordinator of TRAFFIC India said: “Few know that our favourite and well-known ‘mithu’ is a protected species in India. Their chicks are captured remorselessly from the wild, and many to not make it to the final destination.”

“The parrot trade is substantial and well organized, but it can be counteracted through concerted enforcement actions at the grassroot level and mass awareness campaigns.

“TRAFFIC India’s new poster is a step in this direction. We hope it will also inspire children and young people too, because they are the ones who will influence future change and can play a significant role in curtailing the demand for our native wildlife.”

Man gored to death in bull race near Kolar

2012-02-20T19:38:00.002+05:30

Courtesy: K RANGANATH, TNN

DOOLAPALLI (MULBAGAL TALUK): The annual bull run ended in tragedy on Sunday, when an animal gored Subramani, 38, of Shanthipura village in Andhra Pradesh. Six others sustained minor injuries when they tried to halt a bull racing madly down the track.

The bull race was organized at Doolapalli village , 45km from Kolar and bordering Andhra Pradesh. Over 20,000 people had gathered to watch the mega event and hundreds of bulls from various parts of the district as well as from Andhra Pradesh were lined up for the race.

The event began around noon. A few enthusiastic spectators tried to stop a racing bull, and when it didn't , they ran after it. In the melee, they were knocked down by other bulls. Subramani was grievously injured when a bull threw him with its horn. Though the route of the race was barricaded, drunk spectators jumped in to stop the bulls.

The injured were rushed to Jalappa Hospital, Kolar, where Subramani succumbed to injuries after a surgery. The six others injured were treated as outpatients, Kolar DySP Rajanna told TOI. Mulbagal Rural police have booked a case against the organizers for negligence and are investigating , Rajanna added.

HR Bhagvan Das, additional SP, Kolar, said events which endanger humans as well as animals should be banned. He said police would take suitable action against the organizers and also create awareness among the people.

The event is part of Sankranti festival, and the people of this village have been holding it for almost a century. The event attracts a large number of people as the prize amount is hefty. Owners of bulls indulge in various tactics, including intoxicating the animals with local arrack and molasses to spur them on. In neighbouring Tamil Nadu, it is called 'jalikattu' .

Cruelty against elephants

2012-02-17T13:58:00.000+05:30

Courtesy : Radhakrishnan Kuttoor

The temple elephant, Narayanan, that had turned violent amidst a ritualistic procession and had damaged two vehicles, being tethered in an open compound at Vallamkulam near Thiruvalla along the TK Road on Wednesday. Photo: Leju Kamal

January to April are the cruellest months for the captive elephants in Kerala when the places of worship in the God’s Own Country celebrates various annual festivals.

Parading of caparisoned elephants along the prickly hot black-top roads for hours together, even for days together in many cases, in connection with certain ritualistic ceremonies, is a painful sight for animal-lovers in the State during these summer months.

The hapless animals in captivity are put to stand in the scorching sun, denying even food, water and sleep, in the name of religion and tourism promotion. It is also a fact that no scripture or religious text say that temple elephant should be part of temple festivals, says Ms Sandhya, district co-ordinator of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (SPCA).

Most of the temple festivals in Kerala are being held in the months of February to April which is the hottest period in the State. The elephants are being rented out for various temple functions at the rate of Rs 30,000 to Rs 1,00,000 a day, making it a ‘harvest’ season for the elephant owners, contractors, mahouts, etc. A hefty sum from the temple revenue is also found to have been spent on elephants during the festivals.

Elephants turning violent during ceremonial processions have also become a regular feature during the festival months and the latest incidents have been reported from Vallamkulam near Thiruvalla and from Palakkad on Sunday.

A temple elephant, Narayanan, that turned violent amidst the ritualistic ‘Parackezhunnellippu’ procession had crushed a car parked in a residential compound and toppled a mini lorry parked on the roadside at Vallamkulam, besides uprooting a few trees. The pachyderm was tranquilised and tethered, later.

The elephant tethered in an open compound on the wayside was left to stand in the scorching sun.

Dr Gopakumar, veterinary surgeon attending the elephant, told The Hindu that the animal was in a pre-masth (pre-rutting) stage and it needed rest, cool surroundings, lot of water to drink, special diet, etc.

Dr Gopakumar has advised the temple authorities to shift the elephant to a cool place soon.

In Aranmula

It was the sleepless days and over-working that had turned another temple elephant violent immediately after the culmination of this year’s Aratt procession at the Sree Parthasarathy Temple at Aranmula a few weeks ago. The violent pachyderm had partially pulled down the devaswom office building at the temple premises before it was tranquilised by the Elephant squad, later.

According to Dr Gopakumar, most elephants are immobilised by chains creating wounds on its legs. Torture of animals by mahouts, lack of rest and proper food, denial of treatment and making them stand for long hours as part of the temple ceremonies were identified as the immediate causes for many captive elephants turning violent.

The SPCA district co-ordinator alleged gross violation of the prevailing laws and rules at the hands of the elephant owners, mahouts, contractors having vested interests in the over-exploitation of these innocent pachyderms.

Ms Sandhya called upon the district authorities to ensure safety of these poor giants. The State houses as many as 600 captive elephants and a majority of them attached to various temples across the State.

It is high time to stop parading of elephants in temple festivals and other ceremonial functions in the larger interests of saving the animals, she adds.

Ban horse races too: Villagers

2012-02-15T23:11:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Mohit Khanna, Tribune News Service

Dejected villagers at Kila Raipur after a ban was imposed on bullock cart races. A Tribune photograph

The government has shown discrimination towards the poor. If the bullock cart race has been banned then why hasn't the government banned horse races? Why race courses are coming up across the country? Is it not a cruelty on horses? The ban on bullock cart race has proved that recreation is only for the rich and the poor has no right to it. These are some of the views that echoed across the Kila Raipur stadium during the second day of the "rural Olympics".

The controversy regarding a ban on bullock cart race has triggered a debate on the rights of the rich and the poor.

A group of bullock cart owners from villages like Kila Raipur, Garkhana and Bhagrian gathered at the stadium to decide on the next course of action. Rattled at the government's order of banning the performance of bulls, they termed the decision as anti-poor and demanded a similar ban on horse races.

Some villagers even termed the move a political conspiracy to stop the bullock cart race with an aim to encouraging horse racing in the region.

"Owners of race courses have sensed the financial potential of the state and they want a ban on bullock cart race so that they could start their business," said Jarnail Singh of Himayupur village.

"The jockey uses a whip to make the horse run faster during the race but the animal right activists do not find any fault in it. On the other hand, we nurture ox like our son. Leave alone whipping the ox, we do not let our servants offer food to these," said Sukhdev Singh of Gharkhana village.

"The bullock cart race is part of our family legacy. My great grandfather used to run bullock cart in Kila Raipur, then my grandfather and father. I am the fourth generation of bullock cart jockey. There are sentiments involved with the game. How can the organising of bullock cart race be stopped because of opposition by a section of people. Even the government has passed the ruling without considering our point of view," said Davinder Singh of Sahnewal.

Tersem Singh, a bullock cart owner, said, "This is not acceptable. We make the ox run only for 20 to 30 seconds in the entire day. How can this be termed as cruelty. If this is a crime then the government should shut down the slaughter houses where goats and sheep are displayed after being killed. Can't the animal right activists see the cruelty in it?"

Meanwhile, Jagbir Grewal, an organiser, said, "We were abiding by the rules and had banned the offering of drugs and alcohol to ox before the race. Whips were strictly prohibited too".

Clean dogs poop, else BBMP will swoop on you

2012-02-08T14:22:00.000+05:30

BANGALORE: The next time you take your dog for a walk outside your home, be sure to clean your dog’s poop from the roadside. Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to introduce a law penalising dog owners if their dogs’ faeces are left on the street.

After receiving complaints from the public that many dog owners, who take their dogs for a walk, do not clean the dog’s faeces even if it is in front of others’ houses, BBMP decided to take this step. According to Parvez Ahmad Piran, BBMP’s Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), in many countries including United States of America, United Kingdom and Singapore, there is a law which levies penalty on dog owners if they do not clean excreta of their pets from the road. “We are planning to enforce a similar law in Bangalore,” he said.

Explaining the proposed law, Dr Piran said that if the law comes into force, dog owners should carry a plastic bag along with a dog scoop to clean its excreta when they take their dogs out for a walk. “Once they clean it, they should fill it in the plastic bag and throw it into a nearby garbage can,” he said. Also, Palike is planning to issue licenses to pets to help the civic agency distinguish pets from stray dogs.

According to officials, other countries provide a designated place where dog owners can clean excreta or dump the poop. “We do not have a similar provision here. Though, Palike is advising public to segregate solid waste and organic waste and then give it to the pourakarmikas, at the end of the day it all goes into the same garbage van. Moreover, giving a designated place to dump dog’s faeces requires money. For now, we cannot follow a similar pattern in Bangalore,” an official said.

Currently, this issue has come to the Standing Committee for Health. “A preliminary discussion was held. A clear picture will emerge only after two or three meetings,” official sources said.

Once a blazing star, now it dies on the road

2012-02-03T19:08:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: D. Radhakrishnan, The Hindu

A toast of the town, race horse dies a violent death

Lost sheen:The abandoned race horse being put to sleep in Ooty on Wednesday.-Photo: Special Arrangement

Not long ago it was scorching the track on the high altitude race course in this hill station. While its handlers and attendants were taking care of its needs, punters as well casual race goers were off and on raising a toast to it. Today it is food for scavengers at the municipal dump yard in Theetukal on the outskirts of the town.

This is the fate of a race horse which was discarded by its owners and left to fend for itself on the streets of this town along with hundreds of stray ponies. Having broken its right foreleg, presumably after being hit by a vehicle the mare had limped around different parts of the town rummaging garbage bins for food and grazing on road side grass patches.

After medical practitioner and animal rights activist Gita Jayaram was informed about its plight on Wednesday, the animal was examined by veterinarians of the India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN). Seeing that the leg bones were completely severed and fragmented they had sedated and euthanised it. Dr. Jayaram told The Hindu on Thursday that she would never get over the sight of the animal suffering. It was not a one-off case, she said.

Abandoned race horses regularly died a terrible death in this vacation destination and a few months ago she had seen in the morning an abandoned race horse running on the busy Ooty-Coonoor highway. A couple of hours later, she was told that it had been hit and needed to be put down. It had suffered for many hours as the desired medication for euthanasia was not easily available.

A week later another abandoned race horse was found on the road near Finger Post. It was in a very poor condition and was now recovering at the IPAN's animal care centre in Mavanhallah, Dr. Jayaram said.

The race horses are thoroughbreds raised in controlled conditions, with high protein diets, the right kind of grass to feed on, numerous nutritional supplements, wide open spaces to exercise, shelter and timely medical support. When their careers in racing are over, they are abandoned or sold for a few thousand rupees to so-called horse owners in Ooty who earn their livelihood by using them for tourist rides. But most of these owners do not provide these animals any shelter or food. They are not provided any shelter from the cold. They eat what grass they can find on the roadside and forage on dustbins, eating the garbage that ruins their health, especially their liver. They also consume the abundant plastic that the tourists leave behind in the rubbish bins and this plastic progressively clogs their bowels and finally leads to complete bowel obstruction and a terribly painful death.

“What then is this but cruelty to animals of the worst kind?” Dr. Jayaram wondered. They surely deserve a dignified retirement and death.

Bannerghatta night safari plan scrapped

2012-01-25T00:37:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: DHNS:

The State Forest department has scrapped the proposed night safari at Bannerghatta Biological Park (BBP) - an ambitious project of former tourism minister G Janardhan Reddy.

Announcing this at the workshop on mitigation of man-elephant conflict in the State organised by the State Forest Department, B K Singh, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden said that the decision would be intimated to the Supreme Court. “The night safari in Bannerghatta will not come up. We will file an affidavit before the Supreme Court,” he said.

Singh, citing the special leave petition in the Supreme Court by City-based advocate B R Deepak challenging the High Court permitting the safari, said that the decision to withdraw the project was taken in a meeting conducted by the forest minister on October 1, 2011 in connection with issues related to Zoo Authority of Karnataka.

According to the minutes of the meeting made available to presspersons, the Executive Director, BBP, mentioned the increasing movement of elephants in the periphery of this park and the damage caused to several structures. He stated that any additional structure would further fragment the corridor for the movement of wild elephants.

B K Singh had suggested that the stand on night safari be reversed in the interest of animals. The others at the meeting supported the views. It was resolved to delete the night safari proposal from the master plan of BBP.

It may be recalled that the State had decided to give permission for night safari within the premises of Bannerghatta Biological Park, which was part of the expansion programme of the zoo, under a long term master plan of the government. The master plan of the government was approved by the Zoo Authority on December 23, 2009 and March 29, 2010.

Deepak had contended that allowing night safari in Bannerghatta will affect wildlife and adversely affect the elephant corridor, considered one of the best elephant corridors in Asia, the petitioner said.

Giving permission to the safari is against the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. If night safari is allowed, it will lead to man-animal conflict. According to the Act, wildlife should not be disturbed by vehicular movement, the petitioner argued. The petition was dismissed by the High Court division bench headed by Justice Manjula Chellur. However following an SLP, the Division Bench of Justices R V Ravindran and A K Patnaik of the Supreme Court, on April 18, 2011, had stayed the High Court order permitting the safari.

A dog’s worst enemy

2012-01-11T22:07:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Deccan Herald, Kavya Balaraman, Inside story

Given the market for pure-bred dogs, it’s no surprise that Bangalore is home to a brisk business in dog-breeding.

What most animal lovers remain unaware of, however, are the poor living conditions and cruel treatment that these animals are subjected to.

Over the years, the breeding industry has become increasingly commercialised, with animals being sold for tens of thousand of rupees.

And like in any other profit-driven industry, breeders are constantly looking to trim their costs — sometimes with horrific results.

Metrolife attempts to find out more about the business. One of the main problems related to commercialisation is the issue of in-breeding, due to which dogs become prone to exaggerated genetic defects.

Most breeders take to in-breeding in a bid to cut down their costs. Santosh, a trustee at CUPA, explains, “When two dogs are crossed, the owner of the female has to pay a huge sum to the owner of the male, and also hand over one of the puppies. An obvious way to cut costs is to cross mothers and sons, or brothers and sisters — which many breeders do.”

The consequences of this are alarming. Dr Nanjundappa, a vet, describes some of them. “In these cases, you might not notice problems with the first generation of puppies, but you start to see issues with the second and third. Some common issues that come up are blindness and deafness, even in young puppies. Their lifespan is also reduced,” he says
Not surprisingly, such genetic problems have become very common amongst pure-bred dogs.

While Dr Nanjundappa identifies dalmatians as one breed which is prone to such issues, Santosh admits that it’s also common among German Shepherds. “I once came across an in-bred German Shepherd whose pancreas were completely damaged — at the age of one-and-a-half years,” he recollects.

Shruthi, who owns a five-year-old male labrador, has also experienced some such problems. “I adopted him from a couple who didn’t want him, and he’s a pure-breed. Soon after, my vet told me that his haemoglobin count is too low — which is partially a genetic problem. We even had to perform a blood transfusion for him,” she recalls.
An interesting example of such genetic effects is in the case of pugs, a popular and expensive breed. As Santosh explains, pugs are imported from Thailand for about Rs 9,000, and are sold here for a price between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000.

The problem, however, lies in their genetically-flattened faces. Dr Nanjundappa explains, “Pugs are not an original breed. They have flat faces and noses, and it’s been genetically proven that they have major respiratory diseases because of this.”

The cruelty doesn’t stop at in-breeding however. Santosh claims that dogs are housed in terrible conditions, and females are fed and sheltered only as long as they can bear puppies.

“After that, they’re abandoned. The infrastructure is also terrible: dogs are stored in wire-boxes like chickens, and taken out only when they’re about to be crossed. Breeders also sell puppies when they’re much too young to leave their mothers, because of which many die,” he concludes.

Pets for Adoption - Bangalore

2011-12-27T23:15:00.001+05:30

If you would like to adopt one of these pets, please mail us at santosh2413@gmail.com.

All our pets have been neutered and vaccinated, and are looking for loving, permanent homes.

                                  
Adoption # 2011-200
GENDER : Female
AGE : 1.5yrs
HISTORY : Abandoned
PERSONALITY : Sweet-natured , gentle, Loves to play & cuddle , friendly and adorable!  

Adoption # 2011-201 
GENDER: Male
AGE: 1.5yrs
HISTORY: Abandoned
PERSONALITY: Sweet-natured, gentle, plays a lot.

Adoption # 2011-202  
                                  
GENDER : male
AGE : 2yrs
HISTORY : Abandoned
PERSONALITY : Sweet Natured, friendly and adorable!  Very Sharp & Active, very energetic

Adoption # 2011-203  
                                   
Name- Tomy
GENDER :Male 
AGE : 1.5yrs
HISTORY : Abandoned
PERSONALITY : Sweet Natured, friendly and adorable!  Loves to play & cuddle

Adoption # 2011-204  
                                  
GENDER :Male
AGE : 1.5yrs
HISTORY : Abandoned
PERSONALITY : Sweet Natured, friendly and adorable!  Very Sharp & Active, very energetic

3 Beautiful Pups for Adoption in Bangalore

2011-12-21T02:10:00.003+05:30

All three Pups were adopted.

Anjali up for Adoption - Bangalore

2011-12-20T22:41:00.001+05:30

ADOPTED

Saved by man’s best friends

2011-12-16T20:26:00.000+05:30

Engineering student rescued on Tuesday night from four muggers by pack of loyal stray dogs he has befriended

Courtesy: Tanaji Khot, Pune Mirror

Here’s a pack of canines that certainly turned out to be this man’s best friends. Kumar Prashant, a last year engineering student from AISSMS, has no words to express his thanks to a pack of stray dogs turned saviours, some of which he himself had rescued from the PMC’s dog pound just days ago.

In a scene that could be straight out of some movie, Prashant was attacked by four unidentified goons who tried to snatch his valuables, including his mobile phone and wallet, in the wee hours of Wednesday morning.

However, seeing the ensuing scuffle, a group of 13 stray dogs Prashant has been feeding, who happened to be near by, attacked the robbers and made them flee the scene without harming Prashant at all.

(Above) Kumar Prashant feeds his pack of 13 loyal dogs. (Right) On the same road where the attack took place on Tuesday night

Prashant works as a volunteer in the field of animal welfare. He spends approximately Rs 2,000 a month feeding stray dogs. He told Mirror, “On that fateful night, I was returning home after feeding 12-13 strays around midnight on Tuesday. This was when I ran into a group of four people near the BT Kawade Road Flyover.

They were all in a drunken state and when they saw me alone they approached me and asked for my valuables, trying to snatch my mobile and wallet. When I opposed this, they became aggressive. A scuffle broke out between us and I was clearly outnumbered.”

He added, “The dogs were few metres away from this scene. When they heard my raised voice a couple of them ran to us and attacked the robbers. Since I had been feeding them regularly, they didn’t harm me.”

The pack of 13 started barking loudly and aggressively, charging at the four miscreants. One dog even managed to bite one of the attackers. When the men realised that the dogs were a threat, they rapidly retreated, leaving Prashant behind with his valuables secure. However, the dogs were in no mood to relent and even chased the goons for around half a kilometre.

When asked why Prashant was out at that unusual hour to feed the strays in the first place, he said, “The people in the locality object to my feeding these stray dogs. So I usually go there late in the night to feed them.”

Prashant has been feeding around five or six dogs there for the last three years. He recently got out seven more canines from the PMC’s dog pound and released them in the area. “When I came to know that the dogs at the pound live in an exceedingly pathetic condition, I was moved. These dogs have no one to care for them in the world, and I decided to bring them here and feed them. And now, the very same beasts have proved to be saviours for me.”

After the dramatic rescue, Prashant informed police men on night patrol. However, he did not file a complaint as nothing was ultimately stolen from him.

► People in the locality object to my feeding the dogs, so I usually go to feed them late at night - Kumar Prashant

Identify dog feeding sites in city: HC

2011-12-13T19:06:00.001+05:30

Courtesy: Abhinav Garg, TNN

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the Animal Welfare Board of India to identify dog feeding sites all across the city for feeding stray dogs.

Disposing of a batch of petitions, Justice M L Mehta asked AWBI to identify feeding sites in Delhi colonies and implement guidelines prepared by AWBI - and approved by HC - for feeding stray canines in a hygienic and safe manner.

The petitioners, all animal lovers, had approached HC urging it to intervene and save them from vicious attacks from those opposed to them feeding stray dogs. They alleged they were harassed and threatened by residents of their colonies for giving food to stray dogs. Arguing it was their right to feed stray dogs, the petitioners drew HC's attention to laws and rules for taking care of stray dogs. The petitions pointed out that taking care of stray dogs would in fact ensure their vaccination and sterilization.

HC then roped in the AWBI and the Delhi Police. AWBI was asked to prepare guidelines to reduce chances of friction between dog lovers and local residents who suffered canine bites or were mauled by them. The court agreed with the petitioners, that feeding stray dogs is both lawful and helpful, and instructed the cops to give protection to animal lovers who wanted to feed stray dogs. "Feeding dogs makes them friendly and easier to handle, and citizens are free to feed dogs in areas to be decided by the Animal Welfare Board," HC had earlier said.

Stop exhibition of animals: AWBI tells Jumbo Circus

2011-12-10T16:50:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Navjeevan Gopal, The Indian Express

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) on Friday suspended the performing animal registration of The Jumbo Circus, which is currently on in Patiala. The action follows complaints of cruelty to animals and subsequent inquiry into the allegations.

Marking copies of the communiqué — a copy of which is with The Indian Express — to the said effect to state chief secretary, director general of police, chief wildlife warden, patiala deputy commissioner and patiala senior superintendent of police, the AWBI has asked the circus officials to stop exhibition of animals as an interim measure, pending inquiry. In case of non-compliance of the directions, the AWBI warned of legal action against the circus.

The AWBI letter also stated that the circus did not send monthly reports of all performing animals and submit an “adequate corroboration” of having employed a full-time veterinarian.

The circus had come under scanner when during an inspection, Panipat SDM (Civil) had noted that a hippo with corneal opacity (less vision) and dogs with docked tails were being used at the performances.

After receiving complaints regarding general upkeep and maintenance of the animals and cruelty to them during transportation and training, the board had appointed an inspecting officer to look into the matter.

It is learnt that in his report submitted to the board, Dr Sandeep Kumar Jain listed a number of irregularities. These included a horse Abas who was tied from both legs, another horse Deepak who as “sick and isolated”, a donkey Tunty was tied from both legs, three female camels tied in “open cold weather”, wings of a bird “clipped”, tails of dogs “docked” and hippopotamus Raja suffering from “chronic corneal opacity, who did not respond to the sight of food but only responded to the voice of keepers”.

A date with dogs

2011-12-08T00:06:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: MARIANNE DE NAZARETH, The Hindu

If you love your dogs, make sure you look up 12 love stories on a doggie calendar this 2012

LOVE ALL: Raghu Dixit launched the calander.

It was a gathering of animal lovers at Sunny's on Vittal Mallaya Road to launch the CUPA and WRRC Calendar for 2012. And to make the evening extra special, theatre person and restaurateur Arjun Sajnani's two adopted dogs romped around with the guests.

Ramya Reddy, the photographer of the calendar, spoke about how she grew up in a dog-loving family. Then she met the CUPA team and the idea of creating awareness with a calendar was born. The theme of the calendar was “each animal adopted, is a life saved”. The calendar has pictures of happy families who have chosen abandoned and stray dogs rather than buying pedigree dogs, and every picture told a story. She also said it was a challenge for her to get the dogs into the pictures and make the whole composition come together. “Aunt Prema, who is 80, lives with six native dogs and wanted all in the frame; but we had to finally settle for three!”.

Raghu Dixit, the founder-frontman of the band Antaragni released the calendar. He too had a story to tell about how he brought a puppy he found on the road home and whenever he played his guitar the dog would sing, “So we called him Whistle. After Whistle died, we never got another dog. I think adoption of dogs off the road is a much nicer way to show our love for animals,” he said.

Sandhya Madappa, the treasurer and trustee of CUPA said there were four pictures in the calendar which were taken in Venkatapura, which is an ‘urban village,' where the residents are plumbers and other service providers. “Many families in the village have adopted dogs from CUPA and strangely the dogs most abandoned are Pomeranians. They are all called Julie and Pomeranians here are known as ‘Julie dogs'. Here you can find tiny homes with large hearts,” she said.

Those who were featured in the calendar came up and told the story of their pet adoption. Maya Sharma from NDTV spoke about Jovi and was thrilled that “he wandered into our lives”. Archana said she called her dog Berlin because two years ago she found love in Berlin and thought it apt to call him Berlin as “he epitomises the love we found”.

Gopi Shankar who works for the State of Victoria, Australia is a trustee of the WRRC (Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre) and said it was his passion for animals that made him volunteer. “I find Bangaloreans more concerned about wildlife and stray animals than any other city. It is up to us to instil the love of animals in our children. We have adopted eight dogs.”

The calendar is a fund-raising initiative and the proceeds will go towards the rescue, treatment and rehabilitation of homeless animals. To place your orders call Sonia Sarathy: 9632810000, or Gopi Shankar: 9731182970.

The buck stops here!

2011-11-29T00:57:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Sudha Hegde, Deccan Herald Whenever there are reports of children being mauled by stray dogs or people being hit by the BMTC buses or rainwater gushing into houses, the first thing everyone does is to blame the authorities.

It has become our tendency to hold the government and bureaucracy responsible for all the wrong acts that take place in society. Though it is true that ensuring public safety is the responsibility of the government and the authorities concerned, the citizens too have some role to play. Recently, when a two-and-a-half-year-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs, there was a great hue and cry about the incident and people blamed the BBMP for having failed to curb the stray dog menace. But later, it was revealed that the victim’s father was drunk and because of his negligence, the child walked away and became a victim of canines. In most of the mishaps involving children, negligence on part of the caretakers is also a contributory factor. “I admit that it is the duty of the BBMP to curb stray dog menace. At the same time, it is foolishness to let children wander on the streets without anyone to monitor them. So many times, I have lost balance of my bike to avert an accident just because kids have come in front of it suddenly. Why should parents allow kids on busy streets and main roads? And when it comes to construction and daily wage labourers, their kids are always on the roads and often fall prey to street dogs. We are also responsible for the stray dog menace as we feed dogs indirectly by dumping waste food everywhere,” says Varun, a professional. When it rains, the problem of water-logging is reported from many parts of the town which blocks traffic. Sometimes, dirty water even enters houses. “One of the reasons for water-logging is clogged sewage lines. Before we go around blaming the municipal workers and authorities for not cleaning up, we need to stop filling the City with trash. Our mindless act of throwing garbage on the roads clog the gutters and stops rainwater from being drained out. If we think twice before littering and show a little bit of civic sense, a lot of change can be brought in the society,” says Raveesh, a lecturer. “Also when we come across reports of accidents involving the BMTC buses, without bothering to analyse what has happened, we put the blame on the BMTC. Many a time, an angry mob sets the bus on fire. Accidents often happen because of the negligence of the drivers. Why should people damage public property for the fault of a single person?” As the City belongs to all those who live here, everyone should take responsibility for all its drawbacks and advantages. “Nothing will change by blaming someone else. We throw garbage on roads, encroach footpaths, jump signals, evade taxes and bribe officials to get our work done. But when things go wrong, we simply make someone else accountable for that. We should change our mindset first and be the change we want to see in the City,” says Gurusiddesh, a professional.

Dog control scheme is a flop: BBMP

2011-11-20T00:10:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: The Hindu

Even as the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) continues to dole out huge sums for the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, it has conceded in the Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed in the Supreme Court that crores of rupees of public money “continues to be wasted on a wholly unsuccessful scheme….” The SLP was filed by the BBMP around two months ago.

From November 2000 to the present, the civic authority has spent a whopping Rs. 14 crore to sterilise and administer anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) to 7,13,598 dogs in its jurisdiction.
Dog census

According to the June-July 2007 dog census, the city had 3.27 lakh dogs, including 1.83 lakh strays and 1.43 lakh pets. No fresh dog census has been conducted thereafter.

Though each year the number of packages and allocations increase, the number of dog bites also seems to be increasing. In its petition, the BBMP has admitted that in 2008-09, 12,796 dog bites cases were recorded. The number saw a sharp rise to 21,586 in 2009-10 and a further increase to 24,120 in 2010-11. This year (from May 2011 to now), as many as 7,400 dog bite cases have been reported. Parvez Ahmad Piran, BBMP's Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), said around 45 per cent of the reported dog bites could be attributed to pets.

The SLP admits that the ABC is neither scientific nor holistic as it covers just a fraction of the stray dog population.

“To be scientific, it must cover 70 per cent of the strays in a six-month period, before the next breeding cycle begins. Given the large number of strays that have populated our public areas, the target is impossible to achieve. The implementing agencies are able to deal with just 15 to 20 per cent of the stray population in a whole year….”

Seeking to strike down the ABC Rules 2001, the BBMP in the petition has noted that the rules “seek to protect animals, with complete disregard to what is demanded for safety of human beings”.

The former councillor M. Pari agreed, and said that the increase in the number of bites and also in the stray dog population had shown up the ABC programme to be a failure. He had filed a complaint with the Lokayukta in this regard on June 26, 2011.
Loopholes

“There are several loopholes in the 20 packages of the programme. The BBMP has failed to control the stray dog population and implement the recommendations prescribed in the programme's performance audit by the Department of Community Medicine, Kempe Gowda Institute of Medical Sciences, in May 2007,” he alleged.

Dr. Piran said while the BBMP had to be considerate to animals, it should not be at the cost of humans. He blamed the recent attack by a rabid dog — in which four of the eight victims were children — on parents not keeping an eye on their wards, not teaching them to keep a safe distance from strays and not teaching them how to behave with them.

HC halts relocation of 25-30 elephants

2011-11-17T01:10:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Deccan Chronicle

In a major relief to elephant conservationists and the forest department, the Green Bench of Karnataka High Court on Wednesday halted the capture and relocation of 25-30 elephants from Alur Taluk of Hassan District. The Bench, headed by Acting Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen, has also ordered the Central Government to seek advice from the African experts who could visit the village and give a fresh perspective on the entire human-elephant conflict in HassanDistrict. The decision also came as a big relief to the forest department as insiders revealed that they were under tremendous pressure from the Forest Minister C P Yogeshwar and local farmers. Mr Yogeshwar on Tuesday had declared that the forest department will capture all the 25-30 elephants from Hassan district and send them to training camps to tame the wild elephants.

Incidentally the acting Chief Justice indicated that so-called ‘elephant experts’ are not helping the court dispose of the matter. “They are not here for conservation. They are here for something else,” he said. The elephants in Algur at the backwaters of Hemavathi are restricted to 500 acres of forest. Majority of areas around this small patch have been encroached upon and there have been no efforts in the past to retrieve them. But the decision of the Green Bench has come as a blessing in disguise for the forest department, which can now think about consolidating the forest land by expanding or adding the revenue land to the existing forest patch.

“The relocation of elephants is a big challenge and in a majority of the cases the elephants will either return to the same forest or create havoc in some other area. Instead the forest department must now concentrate on creating a better habitat for those elephants which are dwelling in the conflict zone,” Suparna Ganguly, senior trustee with Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) organization.

An elephant is a contented animal. If you provide the required food and waterholes, even if you grow sugarcane the elephants will keep away. Manage forests and fauna which are suitable to elephants. I am happy with the HC direction,” said B R Deepak, Environmental Lawyer, High Court. Meanwhile an official from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, New Delhi, told DC that the two elephant experts from Africa - Cynphia Moss and Joys Pool – are expected to be invited to visit Hassan in the coming weeks.

Be kind to your four-legged friend!

2011-10-24T10:59:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Deccan Herald

Deepavali is that time of the year when families get together, burst crackers and have fun.

Affectionate: During festivals it is important to take extra care of pets.However, most people tend to forget how scared and restless animals get during this time.

Dogs, cats and birds get agitated at the sound of crackers and many even run away from home and get lost.

Every year, organisations like CUPA, People For Animals, Karuna and even veterinarians get many cases of burn injuries or missing pets.

Volunteers at these organisations say that handling such cases gets rather stressful
because it is a rarity for a pet to return home.

Metrolife asks pet owners in the City about the precautions they take to ensure that their four-legged friend is safe and secure during Deepavali.

Sonali, a student, who owns a dachshund called Sox, says that every time her dog hears the sound of crackers, it runs under a table and starts to shiver.

“But over the years, it has started barking back at the sound. But we make sure we don’t let it out on the streets,” she says.

According to Sonali, each dog reacts differently to the crackers and all dogs need is extra attention from their owners during this time.

Agrees Ruchika, a professional, who owns a boxer.

“Being there in the same room as the dog helps it calm down and feel safe. I generally ensure that I feed him much before the crackers start to light up. I also give him enough water to drink and make sure that he is always under the family’s supervision,” she adds.

The same applies for cats. Tauseef, a student, who owns a Persian cat, informs that cats can hear sounds nearly ten times higher than a human being.

“That’s why I make sure I keep the cat in a room, close all the windows, pull the screens and even soundproof the room as much as I can. I also don’t let it out in the morning. I keep it indoors because you never know what it will end up eating outside,” he adds.
But no matter how cautious one is, there are times when pets tend to get injured or even run away out of fear.

Dhananjay, a professional, makes sure that his pet always wears a collar with an identification tag which has his address and number on it.

“This way, even if my dog runs away out of fear, whoever finds him can return him,” he adds.

Suparna, the co-founder and president of CUPA, suggests that this is the time when pet owners have to be extra attentive.

“In case a pet goes missing, one has to react immediately by first registering a complaint at the nearest police station and then putting out leaflets of the missing pet with a picture of it and informing the neighbouring shops,” she says.

And in case of burn injuries, veterinarian Umesh says the owners should administer basic first aid before taking the pet to the nearest clinic.

“One can immediately pour cold water over the burn. Pouring egg white over it also helps remove the heat from the burn to a large extent. We need to help our pets be comfortable with these changes and get rid of their fear the same way as we would make our kids understand the activities taking place around them,” he says.

Pachyderms at Punnathur Kotta under torture

2011-10-18T00:28:00.000+05:30

PIERCING TRUTH: The wound on the leg of an elephant at Punnathur Kotta near Guruvayur caused by the iron chain, has turned septic due to lack of timely care by the authorities.

By Dhanya Ezhuthachan Sixty-three captive elephants at the Punnathur Kotta elephant sanctuary near Guruyaur meted with ill-treatment and torture are living in a pathetic condition, Heritage Animal Task Force secretary VK Venkitachalam has alleged.

According to Venkitachalam, the elephants are forced to stand all the time without proper food, rest and other basic facilities. The authorities, who do not seem to be concerned about these elephants' poor health and diseases, take them to festivals.

The sanctuary consisted of 11 acres of land is governed by Guruvayur Devaswom.

Most of the elephants came to the sanctuary through Rs Nadayiruthal' ritual at the Guruvayur temple, an offering of elephants to the deity.

Venkitachalam alleged that people made the offering when their elephants were ill and not able to work.

Now, there are 37 elephants at the sanctuary without ownership certificate. These days, barring exceptional cases, elephant offerings are not accepted at the temple.

In such cases too, there are strict norms to be adhered. The temple should not accept an elephant without the certificate. The authorities should check whether the elephants are physically fit for temple rituals. It is also alleged that the authorities do not stick to the rules and accept elephants.

Venkitachalam says the temple needs just three elephants for its daily rituals.

He added that at least three acres of land are needed for an elephant. However, in the elephant sanctuary, 63 elephants stay in just 11 acres of land without sufficient space to move.

Leg bones of some elephants appeared to be bent by holding the weight of the body for longer hours.

He adds, "The elephants get Kettiyazhikal whenever their mahout changes. Mahouts torture them. It causes bone injuries and fractures.

Such torture is said to be leading to the attack on mahouts.

Venkitachalam says, "Shifting elephants in trucks is the cruellest human action to the animal. They cannot breathe properly and eat while travelling."

The authorities cut the tusk and tail hairs of the elephants and sell it outside. Such tortures are against the Wild Life Protection Act, 1972.

Venkitachalam says the Devaswom authorities completely ignore the notices from the state forest department to stop torture of the elephants.

Chairman of Guruvayur Devaswom TV Chandramohan says, "India's best system is provided at the sanctuary. 'Nadayiruthal' is very scarce nowadays due to the ownership certificate problems. Best doctors available for the elephants. We have limitations on the space, still we maintain it with the available facilities and try to improve. We take elephants to festivals after proper verifications.

TVS Motors Company soon will donate a vehicle specially designed to shift elephants to distant locations. Best food and traditional treatment are given to the elephants.

The mahouts are employees with class II salary of government staff. Problems may be there. But, one should try to see the positive sides too."

Help for Animals India

2011-10-18T00:26:00.000+05:30

Help for Animals India is a labor of love. Help Animals India (HAI) is an all-volunteer USA non-profit 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to supporting efficient and effective animal protection organizations in India.
Help Animals India seeks out the best of these under funded organizations to provide financial and practical assistance where it can make the most difference.

From one of these hardworking groups comes the story or Menaka, the abused and much less known elephant. just Like Anne, the now famous circus elephant, whose abuse video moved the netizens into action.!

Nothing highlights the tragic fate of captive elephants than the plight of Menaka, the 19-year old female elephant who was made to suffer abuse and cruelty in the name of ritual and tradition in the custody of a temple. She was used for begging, made to walk the hot asphalted roads and was denied even basic healthcare. She was made to stand in her own urine and dung the whole day and a ramshackle vehicle garage was her shelter for the night. Her plight was brought to the notice of CUPA which approached the local police station in 2004. Even as investigations were apace, the cruelty to Menaka continued unabated. The Karnataka Forest Department seized Menaka from the temple in 2007. WRRC stepped in to help Menaka by contributing to her feed and to pay the salary of her mahouts. Read more about her story here http://www.wrrcbangalore.org/projects.

Menaka now spends 16 hours every day in the Bannerghatta National Park. There she gets to socialize with her new friends - other elephants who, though captive too, are left in the park's forest to graze and forage full-time. At the rescue center, where she is brought indoors after her bath and scrub in a nearby water body, Menaka spends the day chewing on green fodder and a snack of fruits and grains before she is returned to the forest at night.http://helpanimalsindia.org/cupa.php

CUPA Bangalore Elephant project is one of the beneficiaries of Help Animals India.

Puppy for Adoption - Bangalore

2011-10-17T17:50:00.000+05:30

Namma Metro launch: Dogs not allowed

2011-10-17T17:42:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: BK Lakshmikanthal, DNA

Bangalore: What do poor stray dogs around metro stations have to do with the launch of Namma Metro? Why, they may go berserk upon seeing large crowd during inauguration and, well, bite people.

This is an apprehension that Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) holds. It has thus decided to go on a dog-hunt. It is going to catch the stray dogs on and around MG Road, Parade Ground and Byappanahalli metro station. Joint director of the BBMP's animal husbandry department, Pervez Ahmad Piran, has instructed assistant directors of the east zone of the department to round up each stray dog in these areas.

Piran said there are 10-15 freewheeling pups in MG Road-Parade Ground area and 20-22 in areas around Byappanahalli metro station. Two dog-catching vehicles will visit these areas on Wednesday, a day before metro's launch, to catch hold of the pooches. On Friday, the dogs would be released in the areas from where they were picked.

"This is done for the safety of the public as well as the VIPs during the function," Piran explained. He said there was a concern that if an incident of dog-bite occurs during the high-profile inauguration, it would bring shame to the Silicon Valley of India. The first phase of Namma Metro, between Byappanahalli and MG Road , will be inaugurated on Thursday.

The inauguration ceremony will be held at Field Marshal Manekshaw Parade Grounds. More than 40,000 people, including Union ministers and dignitaries from state as well as central governments, are expected to take part in it.

The Palike has taken up asphalting of roads and beautification of footpaths on the stretch from MG Road to Byappanahalli metro station. For the work, it is shelling crores of rupees drawn from its emergency fund. Leaving no stone unturned and going by the dictum of better safe than sorry, it has decided to round up man's best friend too.

Humanity does Exist

2011-10-14T01:59:00.000+05:30

Two blind persons wanted to drink water at the RagiGudda temple, Bangalore.
When they were unable to operate the tap, this mother monkey opened the tap for them, allowed them to drink water, drank some water herself and then closed the tap before leaving the scene.

Courtesy: Prajavani. Picture was sent to us by Pamela Gale Malhotra

2 Playful Pups for Adoption - Bangalore

2011-10-10T18:36:00.001+05:30

2 Playful and loving pups for adoptions in Bangalore

ADOPTED

BBMP comes up with a doggone idea

2011-10-08T12:12:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Express News Service , The New Indian Express

BANGALORE: If you own a Labrador and a Dachshund, be prepared to part with one.

For, if the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) gets a nod from its legal department, it plans to restrict the number of dogs you can own to one.

According to Parvez Ahmad Piran, BBMP’s Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), the Palike was still studying the proposal. “We are getting letters from people who are opposed to the new draft rule. They say the Palike cannot restrict the number of pets they can own,” he said. He said they are checking whether the Palike’s plan to restrict the number of pet dogs was “undemocratic”.

Piran added it will take at least 15 days for them (Animal Husbandry Department) to seek the legal department’s opinion. When contacted, Geetha Shashikumar, chairperson to Standing Committee (Health), said the matter had come up before the committee once.

However, it has not been finalised yet. “The Animal Husbandry Department has to send the file to the commissioner for approval and later it will come to the Standing Committee,” she said.

According to a senior official from the Palike, BBMP is drafting new rules on pet dogs. As the city was witnessing an increasing number of dog bite cases, the Palike is taking up the animal birth control measures (ABC) in a full-fledged manner.

However, ABC is restricted to stray dogs. In order to distinguish pet dogs from strays, the Palike planned to issue licences to pet dogs. And when the matter came up for discussion at the meeting, a question on how many pet dogs from one house could be issued a licence was raised. It was then that officials and elected representatives are said to have suggested a one dog licence per house.

Central notification reinforces ban on bullock cart race

2011-10-05T21:50:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Dipannita DasDipannita Das, TNN

PUNE: The Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) recently issued a notification specifying that animals like bulls, bears, monkeys, tigers, panthers and lions shall not be exhibited or trained as performing animals.

It comes as a good news for animal activists who have been protesting against bullock cart races, held across Maharashtra, especially in the districts of Nashik, Pune, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad and Satara.

Manoj Oswal, officer, animal welfare board of India ( AWBI), told TOI that the high court had in 2007 ordered that all such races be stopped in Maharashtra till further orders from the court. But the actual implementation was poor in the state. This new notification from the Central government reinforces the ban across the country. A government resolution (GR) has also been issued by the state government to the effect, he added.

"The bulls are pulled by more than 25 people at a time and mercilessly whipped in a group. Then they are led to the edge of the race track and are startled by the sounds relayed over the public address system. The confused bulls are then released on the tracks. They run at full speed, as they run for their lives. They do not stop for kilometres after the track is over,'' he said.

This torturous run is camouflaged as a race. Several people are killed by these rushing bulls, mostly people miles away from the event.

The Ahmednagar Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) approached the high court to stop the races in 2005, following which the government gave a stay order.

Oswal said that a contempt petition was filed by him in the Aurangabad bench of the Bombay high court in 2010. The court admitted a case of contempt of court against 22 collectors and the directorate general of police. Following this, few collectors offered unconditional apology to the court.

Recently, the Supreme Court appointed the animal welfare board of India (AWBI) to inspect races and bull fights. "I was sent to Tamil Nadu for the same and came up with a report which was submitted to the SC. In cognizance, the central government has come up with this notification on complete ban on bullocks as performing animals," he said.

Anil D Kataria animal welfare officer, committee to monitor animal welfare laws in Maharashtra (appointed by Bombay high court and government of Maharashtra), said that according to the MoEF notification, bullock cart races in the state becomes illegal.

"During the month of Shravan, many such races are held in rural areas of Maharashtra, and these must be stopped in compliance with the MoEF notification,'' he said.

Also, Kataria, president of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), Ahmednagar, pointed out that in many places, a horse and bullock are harnessed to a cart and are subjected to racing and while doing so they are subjected to cruelty in order to make them run faster.

A bull would be in a no position to maintain speed with that of a horse. Thus, such races amount to cruelty to animals and an offence punishable under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

A letter written by Kataria to chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, requests to issue instructions through the collectors all over the state, prohibiting such bullock cart races with immediate effect.

"The Central government's move should put an end to it. As the notification may not have come to the notice of people and even administration at large, necessary action is requested at the earliest,'' the letter reads.

Seven-year jail for cow slaughter in Gujarat

2011-09-29T00:25:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: The Hindu

A Bill seeking a seven-year jail term for cow slaughter or even transporting the animal for that purpose was passed unopposed in the Gujarat Assembly on Tuesday, with the Opposition Congress extending support to it.

As per the provisions of the Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (GAPA) 1954, which prohibits cow slaughter, there is no provision to prevent transportation of the animal for slaughter.

The Bill was tabled in the Assembly by Agriculture Minister Dileep Sanghani.

“To strengthen enforcement and implementation of the Act, stringent punishment for violation of the provisions has been proposed in the Bill,” Mr. Sanghani said.

“The six-month jail term has been extended to seven years on conviction and the fine has been increased to Rs. 50,000 from Rs. 1,000.”

Provision to confiscate the vehicle used for carrying cow meat has also been made in the Bill.

A permit will be required for transporting animals for bona fide agricultural and animal husbandry purposes, the Bill says. — PTI

Chubby Puppy for Adoption - Bangalore

2011-09-28T20:39:00.002+05:30

He is really playful ,he can adjust with any animal even with cats, Please help us to find him a lovely home, Puppy loves to play with kids.

ADOPTED

Four years on, Forest Department goes back on its ‘jumbo’ order

2011-09-26T23:55:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Indian Express

Ignoring its own 2007 order banning elephants from city roads, the Forest Department has washed its hands of the responsibility of the pachyderms, saying nature and age will take their course.

Four years ago, the department had issued an order banning elephants from city roads and said if found within the city limits of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane, the animals will be confiscated from their owners and ordered to leave the city.

But now, officials say this is not possible as the jumbos are comfortable with their owners and can’t be snatched away from them as the animals could turn violent.

“After the ban, the number of elephants on the streets as well as circuses have dwindled. Those still seen in the city are too domesticated and will not survive in the wild. They are used to their handlers and we can’t confiscate them as our interference might cause the animals to protest. We have to bear with some things. Let nature and age take their course,” said R K Pole, Chief Conservator of Forests, Thane.

Animal activists are aghast at the apathy of the authorities and blame this on the lack of coordination between central and state authorities. “If this is the case, they should officially withdraw the 2007 ban. They are blatantly ignoring the guidelines set by the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) for elephants. If there is an accident or the animals are hurt for any reason, will they take responsibility?” said Sunish Subramanian, the founder and secretary of NGO Plant and Animal Welfare Society.

The Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and Thane region is home to around seven privately owned elephants. “Most of them are used for begging or for religious purposes and made to walk miles without adequate food and water,” Subramanian said.

One of the owners, 70-year-old Mulund resident Ram Rathi Goswami Maharaj, has regularly been in trouble with animal activists as well as the police. He has been fined multiple times for negligence towards his two female elephants aged 35 and 15 and for making them beg on the streets. There is also a court case going on against him as his ownership papers for his 15-year-old elephant, which he purchased for around Rs 2.9 lakh from Madhya Pradesh, are allegedly fake.

Goswami, for whom providing elephants for religious occasions is a family profession, said: “They are my only source of income. When I don’t harm my elephants and they don’t harm anyone, I don’t know what the problem is.”

Subramanian said the usage of elephants for begging has been reported from areas in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Vasai and Kalyan. He said he wrote to the CZA in 2009, but no action has yet been taken. Many cases of severe injuries to the animals have been reported to the police.”The handlers and owners of the elephants live in poor conditions, so it is highly unlikely that they can provide proper food and medical treatment to the animals,” he said.

Elephant lovers have been urging the authorities to shift them to national parks or tiger reserves. “We are not asking them to send the elephants to the wild. But they can be transferred to national parks where they can be adequately taken care of and have the space to roam around as they are meant to,” said Subramanian.

But forest officials negate this view. “We don’t believe that it is advisable as the animals will not be able to live properly in sanctuaries or national parks as they are comfortable where they are,” said Pole.

Dog’s world indeed: Can’t cut a pooch’s tail

2011-09-22T17:53:00.000+05:30

Courtesy By Soumita Majumdar , DNA

Don’t get tempted to dock your dog’s tail or shape up its ears anymore before presenting it in a dog show.

Acting on a petition by Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations, Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has sent a notification to various veterinary colleges and kennel clubs known to carry out the procedures on pets. Dog lovers and animal welfare activists have welcomed this move.

Incidents of shaping ears of the pet dogs or docking off their tails, amounting to mutilation, are rampant. The AWBI has termed these as offences, with punishment ranging from fine to imprisonment or both.

“Just to beautify the pet, it is pointless and inhuman to make it undergo such painful procedures,” said Suparna Ganguly, president, Compassion Unlimited Plus action (CUPA).

It’s a great move by the AWBI, said Ann Thomas, an animal lover and a marketing manager from the city, who have had brought up 10 dogs at different points of time.

“It’s unreasonable to subject your pets through such horrific acts of violence. If you love the animal, you should love it the way it is and not try to beautify it by mutilation,” she said.

Veterinary doctors say docking and ear cropping are common among pet dogs that participate in dog shows.

“If it is done under scientific manner with anesthesia, it is not cruel. But in many cases, instead of getting these cosmetic surgeries done by professional doctors, pet owners get it done by layman without proper anesthesia. Even when it is done under local anesthesia, the animal gets pain during the recovery period,” said Dr Udayravi Bhat with Prajna Veterinary Clinic at Banashankari.

Thus it is good that the AWBI has banned any form of mutilation on animals, he added.

However, cropping and docking need to be done on dogs that take part in internationalshows.Dr Bhat said many pet owners in Bangalore make their dogs take part in international dog shows.

Dog pound issue: AWBI team to visit city

2011-09-01T19:36:00.002+05:30

Courtesyu: The Hindu

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) will be sending a team to inspect dog pounds in the city. This decision comes in the backdrop of a raging controversy over the conditions in dog pounds and the ongoing tussle between dog lovers in Hyderabad and GHMC officials.

The AWBI chairman Gen. Kharb who wrote a letter to the GHMC commissioner sought full cooperation of the municipal officials to the visiting team. Enlisting a series of ‘deeply disturbing reports and complaints' regarding the condition of the dog pounds run by GHMC, he has asked officials concerned to immediately review the situation and take corrective action.

The letter was sent after the GHMC denied allegations levelled by animal lovers and published in The Hindu Downtown editions. Gen. Kharb stated that board was deeply distressed that the GHMC, “as per the accounts received and which we have no reason to disbelieve” continued to perpetrate barbaric cruelty upon the mute. “Scant regard is obviously being paid to the requirements of law, and to equity, justice and good conscience,” he wrote.

The letter stated that if the facilities and infrastructure in the pounds were inadequate, there was no reason why animals need to be dumped and incarcerated in them. “Animal birth control has to be preceded by capacity building,” the letter stated. The Chairman has asked the GHMC to take into account the formation of a monitoring committee, as per Rule 4 of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules by inviting greater participation from the animal welfare community, including individuals, and NGOs/AWOs operating within the twin cities. The letter has asked the GHMC to ensure greater transparency at the pounds. While the Board had earlier issued a “strong legal notice” on June 25, 2009, to the GHMC for contravention of law, and violation of Supreme Court directions, its functionaries, employees, and agents. No reply to the same had however been received by us, “Obviously, the position has not altered yet,” the letter said.

Animal Welfare Board of India distressed as GHMC continues to perpetrate cruelty upon the mute, says chairman Gen. Kharb

A change in attitude

2011-08-31T17:35:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: The Hindu

NDTV Bangalore's Bureau Chief Maya Sharma's favourite tale is the one where a man picks up one beached starfish after another and flings them in the ocean to save their lives. Asked how he could possibly make a difference to the hundreds that lay helpless on the shore, he tossed another into the ocean and responded - “Made a difference to that one”.

Maya met Jogi when he was a homeless puppy that joined her for walks. “He was a free-range pup”, she laughs. The fragility of an orphaned pup's life became evident when Jogi was hit by a motorbike and later bitten by a poisonous snake. “My husband rushed him to a vet”, says Maya adding that they had to wait and watch what happened next. Luckily, he recovered both from the bite and a bout of distemper. They decided to bring him home and raise him as their pet. “My mother has been a big influence. She has always been aware of animals in distress and reached out to them” says the journalist who now inspires others to consider adopting Indian pups from the street.

Compassion runs in the family, for Maya's aunt has adopted several homeless pups in Mysore. When a dog in her previous residence in Jayanagar gave birth to six puppies, Maya's family got cracking and found homes for all of them through colleagues and relatives. “The Animal Birth Control programme has to happen on a war footing to get the numbers down”, she says.

In the meantime, she observes positive trends in the city, such as adoption camps that are conducted successfully with many native pups being taken off the streets in the process. She hopes for a change in attitudes that will mean more lives being saved and refers to the pedigree dog trade in this context. “A dog is still considered a status symbol”, she says of the problem. “I'm baffled when people continue to buy dogs when there are so many adorable pups that need protection”. She calls Jogi a gentle soul, a sweetheart and a fantastic dancer. “When we pick up the leash to take him for a walk, he does a canine break-dance”, she says. There are hundreds of pups much like Jogi who are not as fortunate, or at least not yet, but as the saying goes, she made a difference – to that one.

Siddhivinayak’s doggedly devout canine

2011-08-27T23:05:00.001+05:30

Courtesy: Jyoti Shelar, Mumbai Mirror

Mystery stray becomes regular at temple during morning and evening rituals, and is slowly winning over his harshest critics

Security guards at Siddhivinayak temple have been tested by a stray dog which has been a regular here for two months. The canine sneaks in just in time for the morning and evening aartis and slinks out along with the crowd as soon as the aarti is over. The temple trust has tried everything to keep him away, but in vain. They have decided it is easier to pacify the devotees instead.

“We don’t even know when he started getting inside the temple. Every time the security shooed him away, he managed to come back and positioned himself exactly in front of the deity,” said Nitin Kadam, a trustee.

Some of the regular devotees complained to the guards initially, however they stopped after figuring out that the dog was not a nuisance. In fact, he seems remarkably well-behaved as he keeps a safe distance from the devotees and never barks. “We have no clue where he comes from or where he disappears to. All we know is that he takes the same position in front of the deity every day,” said a security guard who did not wish to be named.

The familiarity with which the canine manages to get in undetected despite the guards keeping an eye out for him, has taken everyone by surprise.

Said Kadam, “Even on Tuesdays when the temple gets lakhs of devotees, the stray seems unafraid and remarkably at ease. Recently, on the day of Janmasthami, there were rituals all day. And what do you know – the canine was there for all of them.”

Thankfully, many of the devotees have now become friendly with the stray and they, in fact, have started liking his presence. “He shakes hands with the kids and other devotees if they are not scared of him. Otherwise, he just sits quietly,” said Kadam.

He added that a few devotees continue to complain but efforts are on to soften them.

► He positions himself exactly in front of the deity... He shakes hands with the kids and other devotees - Nitin kadam, temple trustee

Why elephants panic

2011-08-24T23:49:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: DC

Is it coincidence that Mysore has been visited by elephant terror of late? The streets of the city saw yet another elephant run amok recently after the last incident in which a security guard was gored to death by a tusker in full public view on a crowded road. It was sheer luck that no one was badly hurt this time as the elephant belonging to a mutt in Mysore scared the daylights out of its mahout and the people around.

Experts say taking an elephant for a walk in heavy traffic is a recipe for disaster and more of them will become uncontrollable if the government doesn't put a stop to this. They point out that the tusker, Maasti, belonging to the Suttur Mutt panicked on Monday on hearing the sound of an ambulance and reacted by trying to kill his own mahout and harm a cow elephant.

"There are 37 elephants in captivity in matths and temples. Several of them are merely pets or a status symbol. Animals in captivity and living in poor conditions suffer serious trauma and can behave aggressively as a result," says Suparna Ganguly, senior trustee, CUPA, which has prepared a report on captive elephants in Karnataka that will be submitted shortly to the Wildlife Board of India.

Ms Ganguly deplores that most captive elephants are made to beg on roads or are hired out for religious functions and VIP gatherings during elections when what they need are large grazing grounds and constant attention from mahouts and veterinarians. Wildlife conservationist, KM Chinnappa, feels one possible reason why even mahouts are sometimes taken by surprise by the behaviour of the elephants in their care is that they are not associated with them for long like in the past.

"When elephants are trained under different mahouts, they are not familiar enough with them to see that they are disturbed," he says, also strongly advising against taking elephants into crowded places.

While some experts suggest that ownership of elephants should be transferred from temples and institutions to the government, others feel a large number of elephants in government run camps too have no real role to play. A few are used in the Dasara festival and the rest are left to graze, they observe.

Prohibit import, sale, use of glue traps: Animal welfare board

2011-08-23T18:23:00.000+05:30

Manjiri DamleManjiri Damle, TNN

PUNE: In response to a petition by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organizations (FIAPO), Major General R M Kharb, chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has issued a circular asking the chief secretaries of state governments and the director general of foreign trade to prohibit sale, manufacture, use and import of glue traps.

Glue traps, also known as glue boards or sticky traps, are a type of non-lethal or restraining rodent traps that are used mostly to trap rats and mice. The animals are caught in the trap by their feet or fur and these attached animals are thrown away still stuck to the trap, and cannot escape. They endure a prolonged period of terror, pain and distress before death. Their desperate efforts to escape from the trap result in torn skin and broken legs while some even try to bite through their limbs in an attempt to get away. Other birds and animals can also end up in these traps and then suffer a similar fate.

"The use of glue traps for controlling rats and rodents is in contravention of the provisions contained in Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960"; said Major General R M Kharb, chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).

"We are grateful to the Animal Welfare Board of India and we certainly expect that the state governments and the DGFT will issue appropriate orders"; said Arpan Sharma, chief executive officer of FIAPO . "Stores, manufactures, importers, pest control agencies and consumers who continue to sell, manufacture, import and use glue traps must be prosecuted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act," Sharma said.

Facts:

AWBI is a statutory body of the Government of India established in 1962 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960. It has been constituted to promote animal welfare in general and for protecting animals from being subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering. At present, AWBI works under the Ministry of Environment and Forests,

FIAPO is India's umbrella animal welfare body concerned with the protection and welfare of all animals, with hundreds of members and colleagues across the country.

Sandip's death caused by humans, not dogs

2011-08-07T00:12:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: TNN, Aug 6, 2011

BANGALORE: Little S Sandip died a horrible death, and no one yet knows how. While the postmortem report with the police confirmed the death was due to "multiple animal bites", forensic experts in Florida have a different take.

Sandip's body was found by the roadside outside a private hospital in Yelahanka New Town, where he and his father were sleeping, on July 1. Not convinced with the postmortem report, Dr Parviz Ahmed Piran, joint director, animal husbandry and veterinary services, challenged the police report and sent videos/pictures of the boy and spot of the incident to his friends and to Dr Ken Cohrn, forensic odontologist, for a second opinion.

These were analyzed by James Crosby, former police officer, fatal dog attack forensic investigator and canine aggression specialist, along with Cohrn. Their conclusion: the cause of Sandeep's death was far more likely due to human action.

Cohrn sent a report to Piran, stating: "The amputation of the leg and loss of soft tissue is not consistent with dog attacks I am familiar with. There are many attributes that do not agree with the autopsy report." The lack of blood at the scene shows it was not the primary scene of offence. The scalp could have been removed symmetrically without bite marks as shown by animals. There aren't any arched teeth marks anywhere on the soft tissue.

With an attack of such severity, there would be some ante-mortem marks."He is also a veterinary forensic science specialist, expert in bite analysis and professor in the department of pathology, immunology and laboratory medicine at the University of Florida's School of Medicine.

BBMP officer disputes dog bite theory

2011-07-29T02:20:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: DHNS

There is a new twist to the death of Sandeep, a two-and-half-year-old boy, said to have been mauled by stray dogs, earlier this month at Yelahanka New Town.

Dr Parviz Ahmed Piran, joint director in the BBMP Animal Husbandry department claimed that the boy did not fall prey to stray dogs as projected.

Piran said the findings by an American odontologist had vindicated his point. “From Day One, I have been saying that it (Sandeep’s death) is not a case of dog bite. It could be a hit-and-run case too. My stand is vindicated,” he added.

He said that he had emailed photographs and videographs of Sandeep’s body to Dr Ken Cohrn in Florida, USA.
Cohrn who has studied them thoroughly, found that it is anything but a dog bite case, Piran added.
Sandeep, the son of a construction labourer Sanjay, was found dead some 200 metres away from the place he was living.

Citing forensic report, BBMP says Sandeep's death wasn't dog bite

2011-07-27T17:47:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Chitra V. Ramani, Hindu

Earlier this month, two-and-a-half-years-old Sandeep, son of migrant labourers, was found mauled to death, reportedly by street dogs. The toddler's father, Sanjay Prasad, said he had strayed from where they were sleeping, only to meet a grisly death. Even then the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials had voiced their doubts about dogs' role.

Now, curiously, a report by the forensic odontologist with speciality interest in animal bites, states that the child was not “killed by a dog attack”.

Expertise sought
Parvez Ahmad Piran, BBMP's Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), said as it was a suspicious death, he had sought the expertise of a forensic odontologist from the U.S. to ascertain the cause of the death.

“I was not satisfied with either the mahazar or post-mortem report. The officials seem to have been carried away by the claims made by the father, who was in an inebriated state. I suspected that the child may have been murdered or killed in an accident. The report confirmed my suspicion,” he said.

Dr. Piran said that Ken Cohrn, the forensic odontologist, had noted that there were a number of attributes that did not agree with the autopsy report. He had stated that lack of blood at the scene clearly indicates it was not the primary scene. “The scalp could not have been removed symmetrically and without bite marks. There is a lack of defensive wounds. Besides, there is absence of arched teeth marks on the soft tissue. With an attack of this severity, there would be some anterior teeth marks,” he has noted in his report.

‘Not consistent'
Dr. Piran said that Dr. Cohrn had also found that the amputation of the legs and loss of soft tissue was not consistent with dog attacks. “There may have been secondary predation; but I do not believe this boy was initially killed by a dog attack,” Dr. Cohrn has noted.

“The forensic report will be submitted to Mayor Sharadamma, Deputy Mayor S. Harish and Commissioner Siddaiah on Wednesday. I went to this length only to unravel the truth behind the child's death,” said Dr. Piran.

Asked then what did kill the toddler, he said it was up to the police to find out.

Animal welfare organisations up in arms over dog culling idea

2011-07-21T20:00:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Sridhar Vivan, BM

With the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike commissioner announcing stray dogs could be culled in order to control their population as well as incidents of attacks on humans, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and The Voice of Stray Dogs, a voluntary organisation that works dedicated to the cause of stray dogs in the city, met on Wednesday to discuss the issue of dislocation and culling of dogs. The meeting was attended by Dr S Chinni Krishna, co-founder and chairman of blue cross-India, Amala Akkineni, reputed actress, founder and chairman of Blue Cross, Hyderabad and a member of the AWBI and Rakesh Shukla, an active volunteer with The Voice of Stray Dogs among others. BBMP wants to cull strays

While several measures have been adopted by the municipal corporation to control incidents of dog menace on city roads, many of them seem to have had little or no effect in curbing the number of stray dog-related incidents that are reported in the city. The forum focused on specific shortcomings in strategies such as culling and large scale displacement of dogs adopted by agencies. These measures besides flouting laws pertaining to animal rights, do not succeed in yielding the desired results.

Studies indicated that dogs breed so prolifically that even the highest recorded removal rate, which stands at 24 per cent, does not significantly impact their population or reduce the spread of rabies. On the other hand, well designed sterilisation programmes systematically followed in several countries have shown encouraging results with the reduction in dog population and the number of human rabies cases.

Amala said, "While we claim to be a civilised society, it is saddening to note that we hardly raise our voices to stop the inhumane treatment being meted out to animals that have shared our living spaces for thousands of years."

Recognising this fact, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA), in 1990, came out with guidelines that advocated systematic sterilisation programme in place of mass killing to reduce dog population. Based on this, the panel advocated the need to strengthen animal birth control and anti-rabies programmes which are under the threat of being altered or discontinued in order to address the issue of dog menace in the city.

"The streets of Singapore and Sydney are free of stray dogs not as a result of indiscriminate killing, but because of sound policies adopted to address the issue,” said Dr Krishna.

The panel cited several examples across the country including BBMP’s own successful campaign that helped dramatically reduce the incidents of dog bites in the city. Besides laying strong emphasis on adapting more humane methods of addressing the issue, it also highlighted the importance of responsible ownership and civic participation in maintaining sanitation levels in the city to make Bangalore stray dog free.

‘Adopt humane methods to tackle dog menace’

2011-07-21T19:57:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: DHNS

Culling or relocation of stray dogs is not a solution to the dog menace in Bangalore city.

What is required is a well planned animal birth control (ABC) and anti-rabies vaccination programme, which, if monitored and executed well, can curb the population of dogs. This was the collective voice of animal activists of The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and The Voice of Stray Dogs. Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, following BBMP commissioner’s statement on seeking Supreme Court’s permission to cull canines on the street, Rakesh Shukla, a volunteer of The Voice of Stray Dogs said the BBMP’s strategy to dislocate dogs would only cause more problems in the City. Not welcomed “Dogs mark their territories and dislocating them will only increase conflicts, as newcomers are not welcomed. Culling of stray dogs took place in Bangalore before the implementation of ABC programme in 2001, and this was not a success,” he said. Actor and founder of Blue Cross - Hyderabad, Amala Akkineni said it was saddening to see the civilised society hardly raising its voice to stop the inhuman treatment meted out to animals. In 1990, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA), came out with guidelines for a systematic sterilisation programme, instead of mass killing of dogs. Based on the guidelines, the activists said there was a need to strengthen animal birth control and anti-rabies programmes, which they felt were under the threat of being altered or discontinued. Not because of killing Dr S Chinni Krisha, co-founder and chairman of Blue Cross said streets of Singapore and Sydney were free from strays, not because of indiscriminate killing of dogs. But, because of the sound policies adopted by the governments, he explained. The activists also cited examples from across the country, including the BBMP’s own successful campaign that helped dramatically reduce the incidents of dog bites in the City. Civic participation Besides emphasising on adopting more humane methods of addressing the issue, the activists also highlighted the importance of systematic disposal of garbage and civic participation in maintaining sanitation in the City.

Killing is not the way for reducing stray dogs

2011-07-21T17:44:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Express News Service , The New Indian Express, IBNlive

BANGALORE: “The solution to control the stray dog population is not indiscriminate killing rather it should be a step by step process,” said Tollywood actress Amala Akkineni. She was in the city to speak on the issue of dislocation and culling of dogs.

The stray dog problem in the city that is fasting becoming an issue of debate and discussion had animal welfare organisations such as The Animal Welfare Board of India, The Voice of Stray Dogs, and Blue Cross India on its toes.

These organisations are advocating the need to improve animal birth control and anti-rabies programmes as the methods to address the issue of dog menace in the city.

Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, Amla Akkineni, actor and founder of Blue Cross, Hyderabad said, “It is only through well designed programmes such as the Animal Birth Control and Anti Rabies (ABC+AR) that include sterilisation and rabies vaccination that we can move forward.”

While responsible participation in maintaining sanitation levels in the city will help Bangalore to free itself from the stray dog menace, she added.

“Animal birth control programmes are safer and efficient, that is why even the World Health Organisation and World Society for Protection of Animals have come out with guidelines, in place of mass killing for reducing the dog population,” said Dr S Chinny Krishna of Blue Cross India.

If streets of Singapore and Sydney are free of strays, it not because of indiscriminate killing but because of sound public policies adopted to address the issue, he added.

Animal birth control

The primary purpose of the ABC programme is to bring down the increasing number of street dogs in a manner that is not cruel to the animal.

But more importantly, it also works towards bringing down the number of cases of rabies in the country.

Animal Birth Control programme has been implemented in many parts of the country.

BBMP’s stray dog sterilization (ABC-Animal Birth Control) Programme also works towards this.

Culling only multiplies dog numbers: expert

2011-07-21T17:42:00.000+05:30

TNN | Jul 21, 2011, 06.34am IST

BANGALORE: Believe it or not, culling stray dogs won't help reduce their numbers. They only multiply. Co-founder and chairman of Blue Cross of India, S Chinny Krishna , who studied Chennai's culling policy in vogue since 1860, says the strategy failed leading to drastic multiplication of strays.

But after implementation of the Animal Birth Control's anti-rabies programme, places like Jaipur, Chennai, Kalimpong and many parts of Hyderabad have become rabies-free.

Following the spate of dog-bite cases in Bangalore, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and Voice of Stray Dogs, a voluntary organization , on Wednesday advised BBMP to implement strict wastemanagement measures and ABC rules. "When the catch-and-kill policy started in 1860 in Chennai, they used to kill two dogs per week. But the procedure did not show any results even after being implemented for 100 years. In the 1990s, almost 16,000 dogs were being culled every year but they continued to multiply. However, after implementation of ABC rules, rabies cases in Chennai reduced from 120 in 1996 to zero in 2007," Krishna said.

STRAYS STILL MAN'S BEST FRIEND

Actress and founder of Blue Cross Hyderabad Amala Akkineni said if stray dogs are neutered properly they can help protect the locality against canines from other areas which may be carrying rabies.
"Local stray dogs can be very useful. They are known to be friendly and create safe territories for people. Hyderabad is not yet rabiesfree but most pockets have been made free by implementing ABC. An adult dog has the intelligence of a three-year-old and can be very loyal," she said.

WHAT CAN BANGALORE DO?

Every area/community needs to map its garbage dumps, get them cleared and managed effectively (stray dog population is directly proportional to food availability) Implement pet shop and dog-breeding rules. Identify breeders who are not neutering their stray dogs Implement ABC/ARC rules effectively in Greater Bangalore. Teach children not to run when they see a dog. Instead look away and walk quietly.

A dog with no name

2011-07-15T19:29:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Biswadeep Ghosh, TOI

He might not be a pure breed. He might be a stray dog. But he deserves every ounce of love that he gets.

He stays near my house. He doesn't have a name, must be six-seven years old, and seems to smile whenever he sees me. He hates dog food, but loves biscuits. We meet each other once a day, every day. He waits for me, for a hug, for the biscuits. I feed him. After he is through, I leave the place. He follows me till I reach my door and ring the bell. Then, he leaves me, and goes away. That is his way of saying 'thank you' I think. When I am at home, playing with my cocker pup, there are times when his sight intrudes upon my mind. A nice, decent fellow that he is, I start missing him.

I am not the only person who feeds a stray dog every day. Millions like me do the same, finding time for their much-loved four-pawed beauties who seek a few moments of affection every day. We see them trudging on the streets, looking for food here and there. When they are with friendly company, they play, making happy noises that we can't help but notice. When ruthless passers-by throw stones at them, they try to dodge. At times, they succeed. At times, they don't. When strangers enter society buildings, they are alert enough to bark the moment they sniff unfamiliarity. Some become so attached that they care for us in their own characteristic way. Only, it comes to them so naturally that they don't even realise they do.

The gentlemanly dog is one of them. Whenever my vehicle slows down, I see him running towards me. When I buy his daily packet of biscuits – a big one, since he is a big dog – he waits patiently next to me. There are days when he is extremely hungry. I can sense that when he polishes off the entire pack much faster than he normally does. On such occasions, I buy him another pack. He finishes that, too, with joy and gratitude.

Apart from my pet who is a son to me, this dog with no name is someone I really love. Something in his large eyes tells me he is a good soul. I don't know how many of us can say that about our own selves.

Now, cruelty to animals may invite Rs 1 crore fine

2011-07-07T02:18:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: TOI, Nitin SethiNitin Sethi

NEW DELHI: Be cruel to your pet or any other animal at your own peril. For, an offender could end up paying up to Rs 1 crore as fine or be jailed for up to five years. The environment and forests ministry has proposed this hefty fine in its Animal Welfare Bill, 2011. For institutions or companies that show cruelty towards animals the penalty would be a whopping Rs 25 crore.

The proposed bill empowers the Centre to fix fines and penalties based on the severity of offence. It aims to regulate welfare of pets and animals used in performances and for scientific experiments.

It would be construed as an offence if you don't take reasonable steps to ensure that the pet gets a suitable environment and diet, protection from pain, suffering and diseases.

"If any person beats, kicks, over-rides, over-drives, over-loads, tortures or otherwise treats any animal so as to subject it to unnecessary pain or suffering' or permits such cruelty he or she would be liable for penalty under the act when and if passed by the Parliament," says the provisions in the proposed bill.

Keeping animals chained for "unreasonable time" or abandoning a pet, or keeping it caged in a space that does not "permit the animal a reasonable opportunity for movement" would call for invoking the penal clause.

If an individual files a complaint against a pet-owner before a magistrate, police commissioner or SP in writing, the officer can send a sub-inspector to the 'errant' person's house to ascertain the truth. The officer can carry out search and seizure under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

The courts could debar you forever for keeping a pet if they find you have been cruel before. However, there are several caveats to such a fiat.

The ministry has also set up a panel to oversee and regulate scientific experiments, where animals are used. No agency will be allowed to conduct experiments without the commission's nod.

While, national and state-level welfare boards will supervise animal welfare programmes and regulations

'Don't use jumbos for demolition of structures'

2011-06-28T01:24:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: TOI, Naresh Mitra

GUWAHATI: Animal welfare activists have brought in a new dimension to the anti-eviction stir in the city launched by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti ( KMSS).

The contention of animal welfare activists is that the use of captive or domesticated elephants in demolishing "illegal" structures in the recent eviction drives in the Garchuk area was tantamount to cruelty under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. They have threatened to move court seeking ban on using captive elephants in demolition squad.

Master Trainer in animal welfare of Animal Welfare Board of India, Azam Siddiqui said, "If government does not mend its way, we may approach court seeking ban on use of captive elephants in demolition squad. Strong criticism was registered against use of captive elephants by the Congress government in 2002 demolition exercise. Later, captive elephants were removed. But again we saw the use of jumbos in demolition this time."

Siddiqui pointed out that the Congress government has not learnt from the criticism it faced when it was in power in 2002 for use of captive elephants in demolition work. He added that the crisis created by the recent eviction drive has gone out of control resulting into the death of a nine-year-old Ruhul Ali.

Suparna Baksi Ganguly, founder Trustee of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA) and Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, a Bangalore-based animal welfare organization, has criticized the inclusion of captive elephants in the demolition squad of unauthorized structures here.

Ganguly has written to Kamrup (metropolitan) deputy commissioner J Balaji, chief wildlife warden of Assam, Suresh Chand, Union minister of environment and forest Jairam Ramesh, chairman Animal Welfare Board of India Maj Gen (Retd) R M Kharb, inspector general of forest A K Srivastava and other animal welfare organizations for immediate intervention into the matter so that captive elephants were not used again.

"This is a serious concern that demolition squads of unauthorized structures comprise captive elephants. The practice of using elephants for such work is hazardous and may create law and order problems with possibility of jumbos running amok, causing injury to both man and property," Ganguly said. "In 2002, similar steps taken by the government by engaging captive elephants in demolition by the state government invited severe criticisms from experts across the country," she added.

Bangalore officials turn blind towards street dogs in the city

2011-06-25T01:19:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Mybangalore.com, Priyanka Nahata

The plight of the street dogs in Bangalore is an extremely depressing story.

The residents of Teacher’s colony are in a state of shock. It’s been five days and there is no clue about the seven puppies that were picked up by the BBMP provided vehicle as a part of the ABC program managed by Vet Society for Animals Welfare and Rural Development. The seven puppies were caught in a blue fish net and dumped in the van. The dog catchers also tried their best to catch the mother of the puppies but she escaped to their fury. “The dog catchers are not allowed to take the puppies without their mother but they really didn’t care. And when they take the puppies for vaccination they are supposed to promptly return them the same day,” says Pinky Chandran, head of Radio Active in Bangalore, who had adopted the pups.

And since Monday the troubled resident has run from pillar to post asking officials to help her trace the puppies. “I contacted the animal complaint control room to find out the details of the driver and where the pups were taken. We were given a set of numbers but there was no response from any of those numbers. We then called the control room number again and were given Mr. Karegowda’s (Regional Inspector, Jayanagar) number. He responded by saying he will check into the problem and get back to us on Wednesday,” shares the resident in utmost fury.

The pups that were picked up by the BBMP

Pinki also tried contacting the BBMP officials in HSR Layout who had the least idea about the whereabouts of the pups. When she did not receive a call from Karegowda, she decided to call him. “He was still unaware but felt that the pups might either be at Jayanagar 3rd Block or at the Mysore Road Shelter.” She then visited BBMP office in HSR Layout to get the details and was directed towards the Koramangala Ward office. ‘God knows what they do with the pups’ is the response she got at the office. Pinki has left no stone unturned and has visited every BBMP office in the vicinity but everyone around her seemed blank and did not take the matter seriously. After a lot of hitherto she traced the number of the driver who drove the van.

She says, “He also informed us that they do not pick up pups. Only extreme cases when people complain we go and pick the puppies.” Further continuing, she says, "I'm extremely paranoid as one of the puppies was seriously injured at a construction site. And the vet had advised me to give regular antibiotics to the pup to avoid further infections. However I have no clue where they are. The mother of the puppy is constantly howling, we just don’t what to do,” says Pinki who has been involved with street dog adoption for a very long time now.

This is the sad plight of street dogs in our city. So, where are the pups? Have they been killed is the big question here!

Need to end illegal elephant transactions stress

2011-06-13T19:20:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: IBNLive

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted animal activist and Elephant Task Force member Suparna Ganguly said that there was a crying need to put a halt to illegal elephant transactions financed by unaccounted money. She said such transactions were causing hardship and torture to the elephants in captivity. ‘’As a responsible and popular Minister, I am confident that while he may differ with the ‘Gajah’ report on certain details, K B Ganesh Kumar has an appreciation of the big picture that the report has tried to address,’’ Suparna told ‘Express.’

Ganesh Kumar had been a trenchant critic of the ‘Gajah’ report which has as one of its main objectives the phasing out of elephants from commercial captivity. Suparna said she found nothing wrong in the Minister owning an elephant. Ganesh Kumar, in his election affidavit, had stated that he owned an elephant. "Ownership of elephant before the Elephant Task Force’s ‘Gajah’ report comes into force has been an accepted practice,’’ Suparna said and added: ‘’I urge upon him to take strict measures to stop exploitation of the elephants for personal gains.’’

Suparna, however, said it was unfortunate that the Minister had objections to certain amendments to the Wild Life Protection Act (WLPA) recommended by the Gajah report. Ganesh has specifically opposed three amendments recommended by Gajah to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. He is against amending Section 39 to include elephants in the definition of government property, including those in lawful possession of individuals and institutions. He also opposes the deletion of sub-section (2) from section 40. Section 40 (2) allows the transfer of elephants with permission of the Chief Wildlife Warden, thereby giving room for transfers in the guise of gift, donations and is discriminatory against the captive elephant as a Schedule I wild animal. Ganesh has also not taken kindly to ‘Gajah’s recommendation to substitute the term “Ownership Certificates” with “Guardianship Certificates”.

Suparna said the amendments were recommended to protect the elephants against commercial exploitation. ‘’I strongly subscribe to the view that an elephant is government property and like all government assets and property, they need full protection. All loopholes in existence today need to be plugged, in order to have a sound policy of protection and conservation of all elephants - wild and captive,’’ Suparna said.

The pre-pet checklist

2011-05-23T20:07:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: The Hindu

Getting ready to adopt a pet? Hold on until the preparations are in order

* Carrier: Often, people visiting adoption events are confused about how to take the pet home when they come without suitable carriers. Carrying animals back in flimsy cardboard boxes, sacks, plastic covers or in your hands is life-threatening to the pet. Before visiting the shelter, take along an animal carrier (available at pet accessories stores or veterinary clinics) that has a firm latch and plenty of breathing space. The carrier will come in handy during future doctor visits if you have a cat.

* Dedicated bowls: Pets like to have their own food and water bowls placed in the same spot for familiarity and comfort. Stainless steels with a special identifying sticker will serve the purpose.

* Collar and leash with your contact info: If you are taking home a pup or dog, it is best to immediately collar him upon adoption. A steel name tag with your phone number will help a finder return your pet to you in the unfortunate event that he goes missing.

* Emergency numbers: Keep the numbers of two trusted veterinarians handy, after getting the references from another pet owner who has had good experiences with them

* Playthings and chew toys: These items should be purchased strictly after veterinary guidance depending on the age of the pet – they are especially helpful for puppies in the chew stage.

* Lining for your car seat: Transporting pets by bike is a dangerous affair - autos or cars are preferable. If you're using a car, consider lining it with newspapers or old clothes to protect the car seat.

Many animals are terrified during their first car rides and might get car sick on their way home.

* Permission: Last and not the least, make sure no one in your family signed a no-pet clause while moving into your accommodation (if it's a rented place) and that every family member has given you the green signal for adoption.

If you've ticked all the items on the list and are ready for the big step, get in touch with CUPA at 22947300/01.

CUPA to shut boarding service soon

2011-05-11T01:16:00.001+05:30

Courtesy: TNN | May 11, 2011, 12.57am IST

BANGALORE: Pet owners can no longer opt for boarding services of the city's oldest pet boarding institution Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), Hebbal. This because that share of care will now be directed to abandoned animals. CUPA will discontinue its boarding services from May 31.

Said Suparna Ganguly of CUPA, "At a shelter like CUPA, the requirements are huge. The number of abandoned and ownerless pets is piling up. We need a large space for that. If we stop boarding service, we can make more space for these animals."

CUPA has nine to ten kennels for the boarding. They are generally booked 60% half-year round and 100% during holiday season. It charges around Rs 200 per day for the service.

"We are strict about pet care. We stressed that dogs are vaccinated and asked for owners' identity proof. Many of our regular pet owners are very sad that we are closing the boarding facility because their pets had started recognizing us. We shared a very good relationship with them," she said.

Suparna added that one more reason why they decided to stop the service is because a lot of such private boarding facilities had come up in the city. "Almost every veterinary clinic has a boarding facility too. So there's no dearth of such services."

"I had the opportunity of keeping my little kitten with CUPA and I know many who have kept their dogs at the CUPA kennels for boarding. They take good care and we can rely on them. But I guess they have decided to close boarding services for abandoned animals. That is a great cause," said Jaya N, a pet owner.

A lot of people run boarding services from their homes. Many have started it out of pet passion and it earns them a decent remuneration too. Pinky Prabash, who recently started Pet Villa at her house on Bannerghatta Road, says there is one facility in almost every big locality in Bangalore. A Btech and MBA herself, Pinky loved spending time with dogs. "After completing my higher education, I realized I still love managing pets. That is how I started the boarding," she said.

Fast facts

* Boarding facility: Charges are around Rs 200 to 700 per day in most boarding shelters.

* CUPA gets one abandoned animal per day on an average, around 45 animals per month. However, sending them out is not easy. Only if they are young and healthy they get adopted early, or CUPA has to wait months together to find a shelter for them.

Panu for Adoption - Bangalore

2011-05-10T19:52:00.002+05:30

Panu is 7 month old female indian dog who arrived on our doorstep in a cardboard box in the middle of the night. She had been rejected by her mother and the family who had taken her in could no longer keep her. As experienced dog lovers we agreed to prepare her for adoption, nursing her back to health, completing all her vaccinations and training her.

She is a loving and affectionate dog with a high degree of intelligence. She has proved herself to be very easy to train and a great playmate to our seven year old son. Panu is fully house trained, walks on a lead, will play fetch, sits and waits on command, will run on a lead next to a bike and has excellent recall. She plays really nicely with other dogs and always welcomes visitors with a wagging tail and an offer to share her favourite plastic bone. She is an ideal family pet.

Ill health is forcing us to return to the UK far earlier than we had hoped and Panu desperately needs a forever home in the next four weeks as UK quarantine laws prevent her from coming with us.

If you are interested in adopting Panu, please mail me at santosh2413@gmail.com

PMO says no to national body to save elephants

2011-05-06T17:50:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: TOI, Nitin Sethi

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister's Office has shot down a proposal to set up a National Elephant Conservation Authority along the lines of one existing for tigers.

The environment ministry had recommended an amendment to the Wildlife Protection Act creating a powerful autonomous authority for the pachyderm. The authority was intended to create a network of elephant reserves which could be kept free of mining and other harmful industrial activities.

The move had been made based on recommendations of an expert Elephant Task Force set up by the environment ministry to study the threats to the animal and advise on how to conserve it.

But the proposal has been shot down at the highest level even before it could reach the cabinet.

The habitat of the animal that environment minister Jairam Ramesh has said is facing 'a story of attrition' is especially threatened by mining in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. In the recent past, the ministry has had to contend with several controversial proposals that deal a body blow to elephant conservation. But it's been constrained by the lack of legal teeth to protect the animal or a single official authority that can steer conservation needs for the animal.

With mining proposals pouring in from the two states and the tussle between environment ministry and coal and power ministries on to open up more forest areas for mining the move to scrap the proposal for the elephant authority is bound to weigh in favour of the mining industry.

Elephant reserves exist even today but they are only a demarcation on the map to provide funds under Project Elephant, just as it happened earlier for tiger reserves. The reserves have no legal validity and this makes it difficult to protect the elephant-bearing forests and lands against changes that would harm the pachyderm. The existing networks of national parks and sanctuaries do not serve to protect the elephant as the animal migrates and travels over long distances cutting across inhabited areas as well as forests.

The authority was expected to demarcate areas – including forests – that are important for elephant conservation and become a single window for advising on changes on these land patches just as the National Tiger Conservation Authority does for tiger reserves at the moment.

Forest officer ties himself in knots over a jumbo

2011-04-25T01:08:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Bangalore Mirror, Chetan R.

Principal chief conservator of forests under fire after issuing NOC to Jadugar Anand for the use of a captive elephant for his show.

It’s highly unlikely Jadugar Anand’s magic will save state principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF), B K Singh, who has drawn flak from various quarters for issuing an NOC to use a captive elephant for the magician’s show in the city.
Not only has it violated the recommendations of National Task force for Wild and Captive Elephants, but wildlife enthusiasts in the city have written to animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi, which can only spell more trouble for Singh and Jadugar Anand.

In a letter dated February 11, Singh had issued an NOC to Anand to bring 18-year-old Kanchi from Andhra Pradesh for his magic show in city from April 4 to May 22, which wildlife activists allege, violates the national task forces recommendations, besides the Indian Wildlife Act.

“It’s shocking. It’s banned to use a captive animal for commercial purposes. I don’t understand how the PCCF issued an NOC to use an elephant for the magic show, which I’m sure is not a charity,” said Suparna Ganguly, member, National Task force for Wild and Captive Elephants.

The elephant was brought from Andhra and has been kept chained at Town Hall in violation of laws to protect elephants.
The 12-member National Task Force for Wild and Captive Elephants, which gave its recommendations to preserve captive elephants, had recommended a ban on using elephants for commercial purpose in August 2010. The Indian Wildlife Act, 1972, also restricts its use for commercial purpose in spirit, say experts.

“Our recommendation to put a ban on using elephants for commercial purpose was accepted by the union environment and forest ministry. Besides an elephant being a Schedule I animal, there are issues of concern such as food, shelter and space. The elephant has been chained with a spike collar. This is intolerable. We have taken it seriously and the PCCF’s decision to give an NOC will be questioned. We will see to it that the elephant is released at the earliest,” Ganguly said.

Meanwhile, wildlife activists have also written to MP Maneka Gandhi, asking her to intervene in the matter.

“We have written to Maneka Gandhi as PCCF himself has issued the NOC. We have mailed all relevant documents to her. Hope she will help,” said Adil Arif, a wildlife volunteer.

When Bangalore Mirror contacted Singh, the PCCF failed to recall the case and said the use of elephants for commercial purpose was not permissible.

“I don’t remember giving any such permission. However, elephants can’t be used for commercial purposes like magic shows,” B K Singh said.

Elephant thrown out of lorry

2011-04-22T01:06:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: The Hindu, Ignatius Pereira

— PHOTO: C. Suresh Kumar

IN AGONY: A tusker lying injured on the roadside in Kollam after the lorry in which it was being transported met with an accident on Sunday.

KOLLAM: An elephant was seriously injured as it was thrown out of a lorry while the vehicle overturned at a sharp curve on National Highway no. 47 at Nellimuuku in the city around 3.40 p.m. on Saturday.

The tusker went crashing into a parked mini-lorry, sustaining injuries on the forehead and trunk. The animal fell on its side and was seen writhing in pain lying on the roadside.

Puthenkulam Ananthapadmanabhan was being brought from Thrissur for the Kollam Pooram ceremonies, which later started at 5 p.m. at Asramam Maidan in the city. Eyewitnesses said the lorry was plying at a high speed in violation of the rules for transporting elephants.

Veterinarians who rushed to the site feared that the elephant could have sustained more-serious internal injuries. But B. Aravind, technical expert with the elephant squad of the Society for Prevention for Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said that a preliminary examination discounted that possibility. However, a comprehensive examination was being done. The society later directed that the elephant should not be made to participate in the Pooram. The animal had been given rest for two days.

The Forest Department ordered an investigation into the accident. S. Sun, Assistant Conservator of Forests, told The Hindu that an official of the rank of range officer would conduct an inquiry and submit a report in three days.

Animal-rights activists expressed serious concern over the growing number of untoward elephant-related incidents during this year's festival season. V.K. Venkatachalam, secretary of the Elephant Lovers' Association, said the elephant had been transported in violation of the rules.

He called upon the Police, Forest and Animal Husbandry departments to show more dedication to ensure the welfare of captive elephants. The National Heritage Animal was being made to do hard labour. The owners wanted to make money.

M.N. Jayachandran, president of the SPCA Idukki unit, said that under the Captive Elephant Management Rules, an elephant transported by lorry should be given rest for at least 12 hours before being deployed for any performance or work. But the elephant which met with the accident was to have participated in the Pooram soon after the long journey. He wanted the authorities to take serious note of such violations.

Mr. Jayachandran said that whenever these rules were violated, the animal rights activists bring it to the notice of the authorities. But the response had been lax. He wanted the authorities to be more serious on such issues to prevent the exploitation of captive elephants for money-making.

Shell out more to get licence for pets

2011-04-17T22:50:00.001+05:30

Courtesy: By BK Lakshmikantha | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

From next month, dog-owners will have to shell out three times more than the current fee to secure a licence to own pet dogs. According to the BBMP’s animal husbandry department, the current fee of Rs100 will be increased to Rs300 from May.

It is mandatory to register all pet dogs with the BBMP. Even though the licence is compulsory, dog-owners give it a go-by as there is no strict action or fine imposed. Therefore, only a handful of people have the requisite license.

There are 3,27,218 dogs in Bangalore. Of these, 1,83,758 are strays and 1,43,522 are pets. Now, the BBMP plans to insert microchips onto dogs to get a headcount and details about dogs.

The BBMP has requested pet-owners to avail the benefit of the existing low rates, since license charges are likely to be increased soon.

ABC programme’s success
BBMP (animal husbandry) joint director Dr Parvez Ahmed Piran said that the animal husbandry wing conducted 69,141 Animal Birth Control (ABC) surgeries and administered Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) to 1,16,419 stray dogs. In 2009-10, the BBMP conducted 29,341 ABC surgeries, 59,765 ARV and 1,721 mercy killing of dogs (as compared to 1,235 mercy killings in 2009-10). Also,

One lakh stray dogs have been sterilised in the current year.
Eight NGOs are assigned to conduct ABC programmes and they sterilise 8,500 to 9,500 stray dogs every month. As a result, the number of stray dog bites has been reduced to 20,000, as compared to 32,000 bites in 2004-05.

Also, BBMP officials have warned some NGOs for not releasing vaccinated stray dogs at the same spot from where they had been picked up. The matter came to light when few residents have complained to BBMP over the issue.

WRRC presents "Whispering Wilderness"

2011-04-16T00:46:00.000+05:30

WRRC presents "Whispering Wilderness" - a unique education workshop to introduce the concept of bio-diversity and its conservation.

The nine-weekend program starts on April 23rd in Bangalore and features expert talks, team building activities, mind control, nature camps, photography and more................

Jumbo goes begging, owner gets the rap from BBMP

2011-04-13T18:52:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: BK Lakshmikantha | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

The wildlife cell of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Tuesday warned the owner of an elephant which was found engaged in begging near the Puttanna Chetty Town Hall.

The 18-year-old female pachyderm, named Kanchi alias Lakshmi, was brought to the city from Indore, Madhya Pradesh to perform at a show of Jadugar Anand at the Town Hall. “The elephant was brought to the city via Andhra Pradesh, to perform in a magic show on March 19. On Tuesday, we noticed that the mahout was forcing the animal to beg. As per the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, using elephants to beg for money is punishable,” BBMP’s wildlife cell chief Sharath Babu told DNA.

The mahout said that the elephant was forced to beg as the money he got from the magic show organisers was not enough to feed the animal. “They pay just `1,000 which is not enough even for the animal’s food,” he said.

When the Palike’s volunteer visited the Town Hall to enquire about the issue, he saw the animal chained inside the hall compound.

“It was chained for the past three days at the same spot. I also came to know that the elephant was not getting proper food and also suffered from stomach ache,” said the volunteer. “They have also removed the tail hair of the animal. The elephant tail hair is used in making finger rings. It’s a belief that such rings bring strength to the wearer,” the volunteer added.

According to wildlife cell chief, the animal was not getting enough water to survive the summer heat. “An elephant requires a minimum of 300 to 400 litres of water a day during summers. I seriously doubt that they are providing him enough water,” he said.

“The organisers had taken permission to use the animal for the magic show. But keeping the animal chained for three days without allowing a walk is cruel,” he said adding that the sound of crackers bursted during Ramanavami may scare the animal. “It may run berserk creating mayhem in the heavy traffic in the area,” he said.

Kanchi had been to the city twice before this. “She had come to perform in the same magic show. I request the authorities to stop animals from performing in such shows. Do Bangaloreans need such shows where animals are treated with utmost cruelty?” he asked.

Lovely Angel for Adoption

2011-03-31T20:46:00.001+05:30

I am 1.5 months old Indian breed pup, de wormed and vaccinated. I had 3 sisters and 2 brothers who already found a sweet home. I am looking for the same. I am very friendly, can guard your apartment or house and keep you company. I am very playful but also shy sometimes.

ADOPTED

I-T puts a leash on dog sellers

2011-03-24T21:28:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Akela, Mid-day

Issues directive to keep tabs on all breeders who sell newborn puppies for huge profit

The Rs 500-crore pet dog business has come under the scanner of the Income Tax department.

The I-T department headquarters, New Delhi, has issued fresh directives to all its regional offices to keep tabs on all dog breeders who sell newborn puppies for huge profits.

All pet shops and known dog breeders are now under the surveillance of sleuths.

A senior I-T officer said, "Most canines of good lineage are sold at exorbitant prices and without any receipts. Some of the deals even run into crores."

According to the I-T directive (copy available with MiD DAY), it has been noticed in recent years that pet shops have spread rampantly across the major cities.

These shops are technically licensed to sell animal food and accessories, but they also deal in canines and exotic birds to make a quick buck.

The order stated that it is suspected that a majority of these transactions are outside the tax net, so appropriate action should be taken against them.

Senior I-T officials, including Chief Commissioner P P Shrivastava, however, are tight-lipped about the directive and how they plan to crack down on the tax evaders.

According to I-T sources, the demand for exotic dogs increased after a cellular company used a pug in its advertisements.

According to sources, a 45-day-old pug is priced at more than Rs 40,000 in the open market.

Pet dealers at Crawford Market told MiD DAY that a Cocker Spaniel puppy is priced around Rs 7,000.

"Pet dealers are not sensitive to the health of the animals as they are more concerned about making money. Breeding is done regularly. This should be banned," said Dr J C Khanna, member, Animal Welfare Board of India.

500 breeders

According to a modest estimate, there are more than 500 commercial dog breeders in Mumbai, Thane and Vasai. There are an estimated 7,000 such breeders across the country.

Dog breeding is a flourishing business in New Delhi, Chandigarh, Gurgaon, Andhra Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Chennai as well. The turnover is estimated to be around Rs 500 crore.

The volume of the business can be gauged from the fact that even a fake certificate to prove the breed of canine fetches between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3,000 on the streets of Mumbai.

But, all dog breeders are not tax evaders. Mayur Shinde, owner of Shinde Kennel, Pune, said, "Dog breeding and selling is my full-time business. I give genuine receipts and also pay income tax regularly."

Elephants unlikely relocated from city zoo

2011-03-21T21:01:00.000+05:30

Courtesy : TNN | Mar 21, 2011

HYDERABAD: The five elephants in Nehru Zoological Park may not be relocated to a sanctuary. Highly-placed sources said that Nehru Zoological Park was one among the zoos, which had written to Central Zoo Authority (CZA) requesting an inspection before the relocation is carried out. Awaiting an inspection, the authorities are confident that it is offering an appropriate environment for this largest mammal.

Besides, officials say that there is no progress in the matter ever since the CZA issued orders directing the authorities to relocate all the elephants in captivity to government-operated refuges even after a year-and-a-half. In fact, soon after its orders, as per the CZA directions, the authorities had also sent an estimate of Rs 98 lakh required for relocating the nine elephants in captivity to sanctuaries. The Nehru Zoological Park has five elephants including the female elephant Rajni that is owned by the Nizam's Trust. The zoos in Visakhapatnam and Tirupati have two elephants each.

Suparna Ganguly, member, Elephants Inspection Committee, set up by CZA, said that if zoos have proper facilities and natural conditions, the elephants will not be relocated. "The problem is the elephants, which have been kept in captivity, need to be monitored. Some zoos in south India have good facilities with a large area for movement and grazing. We need to first evaluate and then take a decision," said Ganguly. She added that so far, elephants from Kolkata, Lucknow, Guwahati and Goa zoos were relocated soon after the orders were issued. But not a single relocation was carried out here.

As per the CZA orders, elephant camps were to be set up creating a semi-wild like atmosphere at the sanctuaries. The giant animals were to be supported by mahouts in a similar fashion like at the zoo. "Hence, there would be no question of these animals being left to fend for themselves," said a senior official at Zoo Park.

While this possibility has raised hopes of zoo officials, animal activists are not happy. "Elephants used in zoos are denied an appropriate environment with space to roam, water to bathe in and the company of a herd," said Mahesh Agarwal, of Bharatiya Prani Mitra Sangh. Activists say that all the elephants must be relocated to sanctuaries without delay as elephants are chained at night for 15 hours in the shelter at all the zoos resulting in torture and trauma. "When we have an elephant sanctuary at Chittoor, there is no reason as to why they should not be relocated," said Agarwal.

'Imported' NGOs to tackle stray dogs

2011-03-21T20:47:00.001+05:30

By: Bindiya Carmeline Thomas, Mid-Day
NGOs from Mumbai and Hyderabad comprise majority of organisations roped in for BBMP project

With most city NGOs pleading helplessness because of a heavy workload, organisations from Hyderabad and Mumbai have been handed the charge of ridding Bangalore of its canine menace.

Out of the seven NGOs which will be working to sterilise dogs in nearly 200 wards in the city, only three are from Bangalore. Two NGOs each from Mumbai and Hyderabad make up the other four.

BBMP's Deputy Director (Animal Husbandry), M A Parmeshwar, said, "We have a few NGOs working with us and there is also one private veterinary doctor from Hyderabad."

The NGOs have been handed work in 'packages' with each package consisting of 10 to 12 wards. A total of 20 packages have been authorised and the NGOs will receive a fee of Rs 600 for each dog sterilised.

"Once the dogs have been sterilised, they'll be put back in the same vicinity. We can't kill them and we don't have any dog pounds to take them to," added Parmeshwar.

Mumbai's Sarvodaya Seva Bhavi's Project Co-ordinator Vinay Moray, said, "We'll start in about 10 days. We've been given two packages and our target is to sterilise and vaccinate both sexes. A team of 12 members, including four doctors, has been assigned to each package."

Karnati Srinivas, general secretary, Animal Welfare society, Hyderabad, said, "We began our work in October and we have sterilised and vaccinated 761 dogs of both sexes. We've covered four packages as of now."

H A Vale from People For Animals, a Bangalore-based NGO, said they couldn't participate in the project as their hands were full. "Our hands are full with the urban wildlife right now. We have no time, there's always something going on."

1.83 lakh Number of stray dogs in the city according to the last BBMP stray dog census

Liam, the soldier, was killed in a firefight in afghanistan; theo suffered a fatal seizure hours later at army base

2011-03-12T00:31:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Indian Express

Liam and Theo were a team, fast friends doing a dangerous job — searching out roadside bombs laid by insurgents in Afghanistan.

The jovial British soldier and his irrepressible dog worked and played together for months, and died on the same day. On Thursday, they came home together, flown back to Britain in a somber repatriation ceremony for the soldier remembered for his empathy with animals and the companion he loved.

Lance Cpl. Liam Tasker, a dog handler with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, was killed in a firefight with insurgents in Helmand Province on March 1 as he searched for explosives with Theo, a 22-month-old bomb-sniffing springer spaniel mix. The dog suffered a fatal seizure hours later at a British army base.

Military officials won’t go so far as to say that Theo died of a broken heart — but that may not be far from the truth.
“I think we often underestimate the grieving process in dogs,” said Elaine Pendlebury, a senior veterinarian with animal charity PDSA. “Some dogs react very severely to their partner’s loss. The bonding that I have seen between soldiers or police and their dogs is fantastic. When you see them working together, it’s really one unit.”

A military Hercules plane carrying Tasker’s body and Theo’s ashes touched down Thursday at a Royal Air Force base in southwest England. The funeral cortege of black vehicles drove slowly through the nearby town of Wootton Bassett, where local people line the streets in a mark of respect each time a dead solder is repatriated. Dozens stood silently — some with dogs at their feet — as Tasker’s friends and family laid roses atop the black hearse carrying his flag-draped coffin.
The Ministry of Defense said that Theo’s ashes would be presented to Tasker’s family later at a private ceremony.

Tasker, from Kirkcaldy in Scotland, spent six years as an army mechanic before joining the military working dog unit in 2007. He felt he had found his calling.

“I love my job and working together with Theo,” Tasker had said in a profile of the pair released by the Ministry of Defense before his death. “He has a great character and never tires. He can’t wait to get out and do his job and will stop at nothing.”

Dog Understood Master's death

2011-03-11T20:46:00.000+05:30

Courtesy : Liberty Hill

Dear Dr. Fox: I'm writing in repsonse to your recent column about how a "dog's devotion to master can lead to the grave." It is similar to what occured with our golden retriever more than 20 years ago when my husband died at 46 after a four year battle with cancer. During my husband's illness, our dog Friday never left his side. He obviously knew something was wrong and was devoted to his master. After my husband's death (in the hospital), Friday sat at the front door all day, every day,w hining and waiting for my husband's return. He stopped eating and wouldn't leave the front hallway.

He refused to play with our children whom he loved because "guard duty" was his only purpose. My heart was breaking for this dog. After one week of watching Friday's vigil, I decided to help him understand what happened. Hestitantly, Friday left his post and got into the car with me. His car behavior was unusual: He paced from window to window, looking for my husband. I drove to the cemetery, and we walked together toward my husband's gravesite. He lay down on the grave, closed his eyes, and just stayed there, quietly. I didn't try to talk to Friday or to disburb him.

After an hour, Friday got up and walked over to me, using his mouth to hand me his leash. He was ready to go home. After we arrived home, he kept kissing my hands as if to say "thank you" and never again sat by the front door waiting for my husband to return home. He now understood. Although obviously sad, his bahaviour returned to normal, and he began eating. In time, he healed as we did.

Healthy Indian breed pups up for adoption in Bangalore

2011-03-02T20:40:00.005+05:30

ADOPTED

Three arrested for killing stray dog

2011-03-02T20:38:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Neelam Pandey, Hindustan Times

In an inhuman act of cruelty, a stray dog was beaten to death by three people in north Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar on Thursday. According to the police, a post-mortem examination conducted on the dog has revealed that it was hit with a blunt object causing internal injury that led to its death.

An FIR has also been registered in the Mukherjee Nagar police station under IPC Sections 428 and 429 which deals with cruelty to animals.

“We have arrested one of the three people involved in the incident,” said Meenu Chaudhary, deputy commissioner of police, (northwest).

Animal activists have pointed out that cases of dog-killings in the city has been on the rise despite it being a punishable offence under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

An eye-witness who did not wish to be named alleged that the police were reluctant in registering a complaint stating that it was a stray animal.

“I was passing by on a bike when I saw a number of people hitting a dog. Some of them were minor, too. I tried to stop them but I couldn’t, and the dog died,” he said.

“I made a call to the police but they said a case could not be lodged. I then contacted some animal activists who helped me in taking up the matter,” he said.

Animal activists too have alleged that the police was reluctant in registering the case when the eyewitness approached them.

“The incident took place on February 24 in the evening. We got a call from the eyewitness saying that the police were not registering a case and he wanted our help,” said Abhinav Srihan, who runs a bird helpline called Faunapolice.

“We reached Mukherjee Nagar at 10pm only to have the police tell us that had it been a pet animal, they would have lodged a complaint. But as it was a stray dog, they couldn’t do much. We told them that it was a punishable offence and finally made them lodge an FIR. A number of residents find these stray dogs a nuisance and even resort to killing them at times,” added Srihan.

Several animal activists have condemned the incident. “It is a barbaric act and those who have committed should be put behind bars. Incidents like these keep taking place as people think they can get away with it easily. The government needs to enforce animal laws in a stricter manner,” said Gautam Barat, cofounder of Friendicoes. an animal rights NGO. In the past, there have been several incidents of dogs being poisoned or killed in the city.

Cop gets award for saving dog

2011-03-02T19:31:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Vijay Singh, TNN, Mar 2, 2011, 12.34am IST

NAVI MUMBAI: The senior inspector of Kapurbawdi police station in Thane, P K Gawane (50), has been honoured with the 'Hero to Animals' award for saving the life of a stray dog whose head was stuck inside a plastic jar for nearly two days.

Touched by the sensitivity shown by the policeman who initiated a two-hour chase to catch the terrified dog, Lalya, and gently removed the plastic jar, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA India) has presented him the award.

Talking to TOI, the animal lover, Gawane, said, "This stray known as Lalya used to be often seen in and around our police station. However, last week I noticed that Lalya had stopped coming to the chowkie; he was in fact spotted going towards the forest side with a big plastic jar stuck to his head."

Gawane said he immediately intimated the Thane branch of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and also asked his juniors to catch hold of Lalya, who was already in a terrified state. Constable Dyaneshwar Shirsat was actively engaged in 'Operation Lalya'.

"I came to know that Lalya had not eaten anything for the last two days because of the stuck plastic jar. So for nearly two hours our police team and SPCA had to chase the stray," said the senior PI.

Once Lalya was found, a cutter was used to finally get the plastic jar off his head and save him from possible asphyxiation and starvation.

"Through sheer persistence and determination, inspector Gawane and his men from Kapurbawdi police station saved Lalya's life," said PETA India chief functionary Poorva Joshipura. "Their compassionate actions will no doubt inspire others to lend a hand when they see animals in distress," said Joshipura.

Others who have received PETA's 'Hero to Animals' award include the Mumbai Fire Brigade, which rescued a kitten that was stuck in a tree; Cyrus Broacha, who refused to ride a bull on an episode of Khatron Ke Khiladi- 3; Sadaa Sayed, who stopped to help a puppy who was in trouble, and Zarine Khan, who rescued a cat.

Was ‘dog-mauled’ baby in Karnataka actually a murder victim?

2011-03-02T19:04:00.000+05:30

courtesy: By BK Lakshmikantha | Place: Bangalore | Agency: DNA

Over a month after 18-month-old S Prashanto was suspected to have been killed by stray dogs in Bagalur, the needle of suspicion is pointing to human hand in the child’s grisly death.

According to a police source, Prashanto’s father, Sukhdev, a brick kiln worker, used to have verbal fights with his supervisor Gonti Yadav alias Chandrasen over weekly wages. Every Tuesday, the salary day, Yadav gave him lesser wage which sparked off row between them. A day before the child was found in a pool of blood, Yadav had threatened Sukhdev and his wife Kaikeyi, also a kiln worker, that he would kill them along with their children.

Police have reasons to suspect human hand in the killing. How could a pack of dogs silently drag a child from the shack where he was sleeping with his parents? Such an act could have raised some noise to alert his parents as well as the neighbours, police argue.“There is the possibility that a human hand is behind the death of the child”, added the source.

BBMP’s animal husbandry joint director Dr Pervez Ahmad Piran agreed with him. According to him, a pack of stray dogs will attack a child from all sides and not from one side. But the child was injured only on the right side.

Since the event took place on a cold wintry night, it was hard to believe that the victim’s parents forgot to cover him with warm clothes. But the child had no clothes on his body when he was found dead.

“The dogs, in their fury, can tear the clothes worn by a child. But they cannot remove the clothes like a human does,” Piran added. The dead child’s joints were dislocated. Had it been a canine attack, such a thing would not have happened. The child’s right palm was said to have been eaten away by the dogs. If that be the case, bones would have been found in the surrounding area. Police could not trace any.

Massive hike in animal cruelty fines proposed in draft Act

2011-02-24T00:27:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: The Hindu

The new draft Animal Welfare Act, 2011 for 1,000-time increase

Animal welfare is set to get a boost with a new draft Act that includes much higher penalties than the outdated fines prescribed by the existing Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. In a signal that the treatment of domestic animals is finally being taken seriously, the new draft Animal Welfare Act, 2011 proposes to multiply the old fines by a factor of 1,000.

The old Act recommends a fine of Rs. 10 to 50 for being cruel to animals – whether beating and kicking it, abandoning or overloading it, or even mutilating or killing it. A second offence within three years could be punished with a fine of Rs. 25 to 100 or a prison sentence of three months; hardly a deterrent in the current scenario.

Under the draft Act, similar offences are punishable with a fine of Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 25,000 or a prison term up to two years. A second offence invites a penalty of Rs. 50,000 to Rs. one lakh and imprisonment up to three years. It also allows for the government to increase these penalties at a later date.

“India has one of the most comprehensive laws on the subject of Wildlife Protection; but unfortunately, domesticated animals do not enjoy specific protections under the same,” notes the Ministry of Environment and Forests' preamble to the draft Act.

“There is therefore a need for a comprehensive and holistic legislation to address this issue.” The draft legislation is now available for comment on the Ministry website.

The draft Act also seeks to move from “a defensive position to a positive, welfare and well-being oriented approach” by strengthening animal welfare organisations and altering and enlarging the definition of animal abuse, in keeping with the times and judicial pronouncements.

For example, the old Act provided an exception for the destruction of stray dogs in lethal chambers, while the new draft law does not explicitly include any such exception. The old Act also provides an exception for “killing any animal in a manner required by the religion of any community,” which is missing in the draft law.

The earlier legislation used a “means justify the ends” argument to allow experiments on animals for scientific and medical purposes.

“Nothing contained in this Act shall render unlawful the performance of experiments…on animals for the purpose of advancement by new discovery of physiological knowledge or of knowledge which will be useful for saving or for prolonging life or alleviating suffering or for combating any disease,” it said, even as it listed the regulations for such experiments.

The new draft Act, on the other hand, starts off the relevant section by declaring: “No person or institution shall perform an experiment on animals unless permitted by the Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals, established under this Act.”

Even if many of the regulations remain similar, there is a clear attitudinal change. Fines in this section have been hiked from Rs. 200 to a much more serious Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 50,000, with institutional punishments also applicable.

Now, kick your pet at your own expense

2011-02-19T01:18:00.001+05:30

Courtesy: By Pankaj Sharma | Place: New Delhi | Agency: DNA

Make sure to cage the beast in you the next time you deal with a pet.

The ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) proposed on Thursday two years imprisonment and Rs10,000 fine for persons causing pain, suffering or killing animals by way of beating or torture.

As per the draft of Animal Welfare Act 2011 presented by the Jairam Ramesh-headed ministry, owners using heavy or short chains or cords to bind pets or not providing them sufficient food, drink or shelter would be committing cruelty and would be liable for punishment. If convicted, courts may suspend driving licences of such pet owners for a period of five years.

Animal rights activists are happy. Mumbai-based founder of Plant & Animals Welfare Society Sunish Subramanian Kunju said, “If this law comes into force, incidents of violence against animals can be really brought down.

“Present laws are not good enough to stop animal cruelty in the country. People get away by paying a fine of 200-300 rupees.”

According to the draft, people injecting animals with chemicals to improve lactation can also be fined up to Rs50,000 and imprisoned for a year.
Taking note of recent poaching incidents, MoEF noted that “no person shall carry on the business of breeding or selling animals other than in the manner prescribed by the [animal husbandry] board.”

To prevent cruelty to animals and enforce the law, the central government will established Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). The 30-member AWBI will be headed by former director general of forests. State animal welfare boards of 10 members each will also be formed. Three-year terms have been suggested for both boards.

‘Dogged’ saviour

2011-02-02T01:43:00.003+05:30

Courtesy : R Gopakumar in Thiruvananthapuram, DNH

For a dog to tackle an elephant is almost impossible but this canine managed to do so

To smell death, perhaps even feel it and then be miraculously let-off from its jaws because of the amazing presence of mind shown by your pet dog is something few will live to tell. K P Rasheed, 54, has lived to tell the story though he still shudders in disbelief as he recalls the sequence of events.

A ‘‘forest convener’’ who engages groups of workers in carrying out sundry works, Rasheed has been virtually living in and out of forests for the last 40 years in the Nilambur range in Malappuram district. He undertakes works like stock taking of the trees, foliage cutting, afforestation and fire control with the help of about ten workers. ‘‘Since it was difficult to move in and out of dense forests, we often stayed in makeshift tents or tree-tops. My dog Appu used to accompany us to the forests,’’ says Rasheed.
Besides leading the way, Appu virtually operated as an early warning alarm for the workers from wild animals. The Nilambur forests are renowned for their tall teak plantations and about 5000 of them were uprooted by a storm in July.
Rasheed and his workers were undertaking the numbering of these fallen trees for the past several months when the incident happened. It was on the morning of November 22 when Rasheed climbed down from his tree house at Karulai, some 30 kms from Nilambur and walked towards the road through the rows of teak trees.
Wild elephants are common in these forests and several people including forest employees have fallen prey to their attacks.

‘‘We get normally warned by Appu if there is some movement in the vicinity. That day he was trailing me at some distance as I was strolling past a row of trees. Suddenly as I crossed a Thanni tree (a pagoda like huge tree with a wide base) I froze for a moment. For there, right in front of me within touching distance was an elephant. It was about 8 feet tall and I had missed it because of the big tree’’ recalls Rasheed the tension clearly ringing in his voice.

Before he could turn and run, the pachyderm had caught him by his hip with its trunk and he was hanging in the air for the next few minutes. ‘‘I tried to shriek and wriggle out as the animal carried me for about 10 metres.
By this time my voice managed to come out,’’ Rasheed said. Hearing his master’s cries, Appu came running and saw the unusual scene. He began to bark at the moving mountain but to no avail.

‘‘The elephant raised me to its forehead where my body touched. I thought it was the end and that the animal would either smash me or trample me to death’’ Rasheed recalls. ‘‘But what stunned me next was the loosening grip of the elephant over me and I discovered that Appu had caught the elephant’s tail by his teeth and was hanging on to it. Writhing in pain the elephant let me down and turned to the dog.’’ This helped him to slip down even though he got kicked by one of the elephant’s legs as it turned to confront Appu.

The irate elephant managed to catch Appu also and hurled the dog away. Rasheed managed to slip down into safety and the workers also rushed in to rescue him.
‘‘I suffered a fracture below my right knee and some bruises as well. Appu also had some bruises. I have a problem with my hip and I am still unable to sit or lie down for longer periods. But I think it is a small price for staying alive,’’ says he.
Rasheed bought his pet dog 4 years ago as a pup for just Rs 300. ‘‘Had I not shown the resource to spend that money on that fateful evening I would not have been alive today,’’ says he.

However, what has disappointed Rasheed was the compensation he received from the forest department for the injuries he sustained.
‘‘Just Rs 5000 and that is the value of the life I got back. This is how forest workers and ordinary people who get killed or mauled by elephants are being treated, '' says he.

First-ever national conference on animal welfare

2011-01-30T10:52:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: TNN, Jan 30, 2011

CHENNAI: They are perhaps as old as humans, with images etched by the pre-historic man on rocks immortalising their bond with dogs. But today man has grown to treat animals as an inferior being, said experts at the India for Animals conference on animal welfare that began in the city on Saturday.

The fact that humans and animals were close companions was reflected in not just Hindu iconography but also in the country's ethos, said noted economist and author Bibek Debroy at the first ever national conference on animal welfare.

"Many people say dogs have no place in Hindu dharma," said Debroy. But when Hanuman went to meet Sita, Rama's brief to help identify his wife included a line about looking out for a pair of earrings shaped like a dog's teeth. "If dogs were not important when Valmiki wrote Ramayan, why would he bring a reference to them?" asked Debroy.

As men became pastoralists, the bond weakened, said Nanditha Krishna, director of CP Ramaswami Aiyer Foundation. The British-style education system instilled in Indians the belief that humans were superior to animals, said Krishna.

"Now animals are ill-treated or abused in the name of faith or outdated religious rituals," said Suparna Ganguly of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, a Bangalore-based NGO. "Many animal sacrifices are conducted in the presence of police and other authorities."

The panelists said the country needed a comprehensive and progressive law to prevent abuse of animals. While banning animal sacrifice remains a senstitive issue, animal welfare activists are hoping that the new animal welfare act will prevent instances of cruelty to animals.

"The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960, lacks teeth. The penalties are often fines as low as Rs 50," said Gen RM Kharb, chairman, Animal Welfare Board of India, delivering the keynote address.

The new act, which will replace the PCA Act, will be more comprehensive and have more stringent penalties and punishments. "People involved in animal abuse need strong deterrents," said Kharb. "The new act will be soon sent to the other ministries for their comments and, hopefully, we will have the act by the end of this year."

Implementation of laws remains a problem, he added. "Each district is supposed to have a Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), which will monitor cruelty against animals. But so far, we have over 700 districts and only about 120 SPCAs," said Gen Kharb. "Police officials also need to be sensitised as many of them are not aware of animal welfare laws."

The conference, organised by the Federation of Indian Animal Protection Organisations, will conclude on Monday at the CP Ramaswami Aiyer Foundation.

PUP for ADOPTION - BANGALORE

2011-01-29T23:40:00.005+05:30

Can you help me with finding a home for a small puppy who we found abandoned on the street!

This puppy is around 2-3 months - very cute and loving .. she has been with us for a day. We have got her first shot of vaccinations and will take care of the remaining 2 shots.

As we will be leaving abroad we wont be able to take her responsibility and trying to find a home for her. I am uploading her snaps - we will take care of her vaccination and neutering if required.

If you are interested in adopting this lovely angel, please mail Kshama at aiyerkshama@gmail.com

EVA for Adoption - Bangalore

2011-01-27T13:51:00.006+05:30

In need of a loving home,Eva, a cocker spaniel needs to be adopted urgently.

NAME :EVA

GENDER : Female
AGE : 6 years

Sterlised : Yes

HISTORY : Abandoned by the owner.
PERSONALITY : she is one of the sweetest angels, very quiet, her eyes says it all
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED.

Six stray puppies ‘poisoned’ to death

2011-01-27T01:41:00.000+05:30

January 27th, 2011
Courtesy: DC Correspondent

Jan. 26: Just two months after stray dogs were poisoned to death at Venkatapura and Jakkasandra in Madiwala, six puppies were found poisoned to death at the police quarters, next to Ashoknagar traffic police station on Wednesday.

Sources said the puppies were only a day old and were part of a 12 strong litter. The carcasses of three puppies were found lying inside the compound wall of the police quarters while the other three were found lying outside. With a stench emanating from the bodies, residents of the area were forced to make frantic calls to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagar Paalike(BBMP) to clear them.

Finally, an autorickshaw of the BBMP arrived to take away the bodies which were later found abandoned about 500 metres away! The remaining puppies of the litter and their mother could not be traced.

It may be recalled that about 18 dogs were poisoned to death at Venkatapura and Jakkasandra. The incident came to light when some residents of Jakkasandra saw the heap of dead dogs in a garbage bin.

A similar incident had taken place in Hennur too. When contacted BBMP joint director (animal husbandry) Dr Parvez Ahmed Peeran he said he was unaware of the incident.

Pet Adoption Day - 26th January - CUPA Bangalore

2011-01-24T00:58:00.006+05:30

While we’re culling dogs, let’s cull the homeless

2011-01-16T19:48:00.001+05:30

Courtesy : DNA, Dean Williams | Sunday, January 16, 2011

Last week, while I was riding my bike, a calf ran into the street almost causing a major pile-up. This cow ‘menace’ must be stopped. I think we should cull cows.

Just yesterday, as I walked to the corner store for some milk I passed a homeless man who looked at me with rage-filled eyes. This homeless ‘menace’ must be stopped. I think we should cull the homeless.

My neighbour’s crying baby kept me awake last night with its incessant wailing. This baby ‘menace’ must be stopped. I think we should cull babies.

I hope everyone realises how idiotic the above statements are, and how similar they are to the ones we’re making regarding the culling of Indian hounds (yes, that’s how we should be referring to our dogs on the street. They too have an identity; it’s not just your pedigree brat that does.)

Every day we read in the newspapers of people hurting other people, even killing them… for money, revenge, or things born of ignorance such as dowry and honour. Still I don’t see column inches being devoted to people demanding the instant sterilisation of India’s prison population, or for the matter it’s homeless. There’s a word for people who demand things like that: Sociopathic bigots topped by a halo of hypocrisy.

And our community is rife with them. In some strange way, I understand the BBMP even considering culling. They’ve got their backs to the wall, mob mentality has taken over. These allegations made against canines are exactly that. No one can tell us the events that transpired seconds before the ‘attack’. In fact, nobody can tell us anything apart from ‘terror’ stories that any person with an IQ greater than 15 can see are more embellished than a Penthouse letter.

Very rarely do dogs attack for no reason at all. There is almost always a provocation, albeit even an unconscious one. And if a dog bites a human or starts randomly attacking other dogs, then yes, by all means euthanize it. But with the latest plan to cull dogs, who decides which dog lives and which one dies? Are we going to base it on looks? Or maybe we’ll go all Nazi-chic and base it on their genetic make-up and bloodlines? Are we going to segregate them into upper- and lower-classes like we do ourselves? Are we just going to kill the ones with ‘dark’ coats? Who knows, but your guess is as good as mine.

If we call ourselves a city of animal-lovers — and I seriously doubt we truly are — then the only way to protect healthy Indian hounds from death is by doing what is expected of us. Please continue feeding the dogs in your locality, but also make sure they are neutered, and have been given their vaccinations, not just anti-rabies, but against Distemper, Parvo, Adenovirus and Parainfluenza. If a dog is not sterilised, then call up the BBMP, Karuna, or Cupa, trust me they care as much as you do.

Make sure the youngsters in your area are educated on the dos and don’ts regarding canines, in much the same way you would tell a child to look both ways before crossing a road, or not talking to strangers. It may sound hard and time-consuming, but it’s not.

There was an incident a few months ago when an Indian hound on my street began to urinate blood. We called in a vet to check on him and he found a cancerous tumour and recommended chemotherapy, to which we agreed to pay for. While he was talking to us, a nun from a neighbouring house overheard the conversation and later told us that what we did was wrong. We should have let the dog die on the street, she said. Good thing I don’t put much stock in the ramblings of the religious. Today, the dog is as healthy as can be at his age, and that vindicates our actions.

But for those who believe that humans are better than animals I have this to say: Are we not territorial (think Kashmir, the Middle East)? Do we not attack when threatened? Do we not have a herd mentality (if we didn’t, riots and voting for corrupt politicians would be things of the past)? We are more animal than we think.

Bangalore has the opportunity to lead India again, and this time not in palpable achievements like IT or biotechnology, but in something that’s far more important than either of those two… humanity. Are we up to the challenge? I certainly hope so. Because if we’re not, then every belief we subscribe to be it religious or humanist is but a shame.

Cat fish rearing blamed for dog menace in Bagalur

2011-01-13T01:16:00.001+05:30

Courtesy: DHNS

Dogs claiming the life of 18-month-old Prashant at Bagalur on Wednesday will have a ripple effect on cat fish rearing, the key occupation of people in the nearby Razaakpalya locality.

after the tragedy Supervisor of the brick kiln Gonte Yadav in police custody . DH photo Yelahanka Tahsildar B Venkatesh, the Bagalur Police and the Zilla Panchayat are now planning to ban cat fish breeding in the area.

Venkatesh told Deccan Herald that he was convinced that the dog menace in the locality was a result of the cat fish breeding in Razaakpalya.

“The dog menace seems to have arisen out of the cat fish rearing contract given to people in the locality by the Fisheries Department. With over two dozen dogs hovering at the dead fish strewn in the neighbourhood, it has become a huge problem,” said Venkatesh.

The cat fish reared here has high demand in places like Mumbai. The expanding cat fish rearing industry in Razaakpalya led to a rise in the canine population in the area. The dog menace spread to surrounding villages, including Bagalur.

Also, the lakes in the vicinity have become a dumping ground for waste from surrounding regions. “People throw all the waste brought from Chikkaballapur, Doddaballapur and Yelahanka into the lakes, thus attracting dogs and vultures,” residents complained.

Prashant’s death has only made the demand from people in Bagalur for a ban on the cat fish rearing industry shriller.

“We will soon hold a meeting with the fisheries department, the local police and the Zilla Panchayat on shifting the industry from here,” Venkatesh said.

BBMP should also take its share of the blame for not maintaining hygiene, locals say. Complaints have been received by the Tahsildar in this regard.

The upcoming Aero India 2011 will lend more urgency for rooting out the dog menace from the area.

On the flip side, the move will deprive the fish breeding community in Razaakpalya its livelihood.

Canines feel threatened as ‘mad dog’ makes headlines

2010-12-30T21:11:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: By Elizabeth Soumya, Agency: DNA

Since animals cannot speak for themselves, there is only one version of Sunday’s ‘mad dog’ story, that of the people: an allegedly rabid dog that had bitten a dozen people was chased by a mob in an eight-hour chase, battered to death, dragged through the streets and then chucked in a pile of garbage.

Dr BC Ramakrishna, president, Karuna Animal Welfare Association throws up a valid question: “Who knows whether the dog was rabid?” he asks.

“Unless it is certified by a competent authority - after tests in a laboratory (conducted by a veterinarian), which is to say unless there is medical evidence - a dog can’t be called rabid.”

Veterinarian Dr Pawan Kumar explains the symptoms of rabies in dogs, which includes aggressive behaviour, a tendency to bite and chew things, excessive salivation and dilated pupils.

A dog can be infected only when bitten by another rabid dog, and once that happens it displays symptoms between two weeks to six months, and when it does, the symptoms worsen and it dies within 10 days.

But the symptoms are only pointers to raise a suspicion of rabies and not a confirmation. Only after the analysis of the dog’s Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) in the lab can it be known for certain whether or not a dog is rabid, says the vet. Even for a suspected rabid dog that is dead, a post-mortem is required to confirm the disease.

He adds that there are ample cases where dogs suspected of rabies do not really have the disease.

Advocate Brindha Nandkumar, an animal activist, urges the need for an investigation into the incident. A rabid dog cannot possibly run for eight hours, she says.

“Shocked at the public behaviour” towards the dog, she says the behaviour is definitely a cognisable offence (an offence wherein the police is empowered to register an FIR, investigate and arrest an accused involved in cognisable crime without a court warrant).

An animal suspected of rabies should be confined and handed over to animal welfare NGOs, and if rabid it can be euthanised, she says. She also adds that the police can file cases suo moto in instances of animal cruelty.

Sandhya Madappa, trustee, Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), who is also in-charge of animal cruelty cases at the NGO says that in Sunday’s incident people took the law into their own hands: “Beating and killing a dog is undoubtedly a criminal offence and promotes violence and cruelty. At CUPA, about 25 to 30 cases of cruelty to animals are reported each month, but many more go unreported.”

According to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, any act which causes physical or mental pain or anguish to an animal is cruelty, she says, adding any killing (animal or human) is a criminal act by law.

As far as rabies is concerned, there have been no human deaths in the last seven years, says Nandkumar. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme started in 1994 in the city has been very successful. Dilip Bafna, from the Animal Rights Fund agrees, and says that before ABC, there were at least 50 human deaths a year due to rabies, while now it is close to zero. “And this is a fact,” he says.

BBMP releases ‘rabid’ dog, within minutes of catching it

2010-12-30T21:09:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: Bangalore Mirror

» 2.55 pm: Dog squad catches ‘infected dog’ in BTM Layout ., » 2.55 pm: Dog squad catches ‘infected dog’ in BTM Layout

The chilling story of an angry mob lynching a ‘rabid dog’ that bit a dozen persons and several stray dogs at BTM Layout (BM, Dec 28) evoked a strong response from animal lovers who condemned the brutal manner in which the poor creature was done away with on Sunday.

Many wondered why residents did not bother to call up the BBMP or an NGO to put the dog to sleep in a humane manner.

We don’t know about the NGOs, but the experience of a long-time resident of BTM Layout II Stage gives an idea of how the BBMP deals with such problems.

Princy, a home-maker, said, “On Monday afternoon, the BBMP’s dog squad came to our street. They caught the dog, which had earlier been bitten by the rabid canine, at 2.55 pm and bundled it into a van. We were greatly relieved on seeing the van leave. But at 3.05 pm, we saw the dog being released at the other end of the street.”

Bangalore Mirror’s lensman managed to find the stray dog, which had started limping after being attacked by the ‘rabid dog’. This paper had carried its picture on Tuesday. The canine, apparently in pain, was roaming the streets causing concern among residents.

Residents are afraid to step out of their homes because of this dog, Princy said, standing behind her doorstep.

Their concern is not misplaced.

Dr Vivek Shetty, director of Sri Sai Ram Hospital, dismissed reports that there had been no casualties in the last few years due to rabies. “The victim came to our hospital complaining about difficulty in swallowing on Feb 12, 2008. He had been scratched by a stray dog 15 days earlier. He had neglected the injury. He was diagnosed with rabies. We shifted him to Isolation Hospital where he died the next day,” he said.

He insisted that if a dog is infected, there is no option but to put it to sleep. “If you don’t, it will exhibit symptoms of rabies within 15 days. Once that happens, it will start biting unsuspecting people and other stray dogs. Hence, it is dangerous to have an infected dog around,” he warned.

Meanwhile, corporator (Ward No 65) G N R Babu denied that the canine had been let off by the dog squad. But what he told next was shocking. “I issued strict instructions to the BBMP to catch the infected dog. I also told civic officials that it should be freed in some other locality. The dog squad has taken the infected animal away. Now, it is not in our area,” he said.

But BTM Layout residents know otherwise. They are now pining their hopes on some NGO. “Let them test it. If it is infected, let them put it to sleep. If not, let them at least vaccinate it. That way, it would be better for the dog and the people,” one of them said.

Until then, residents plan to stay as far away as possible from any dog in the neighbourhood.

‘Try contacting dog lovers’

In response to report ‘Rabid canine dies a dog’s death’ (Dec 28, BM), readers wrote in saying people in BTM Layout should have contacted the CUPA or the BBMP instead of killing the rabid dog themselves. I have a dog on my street which is sterilised and goes around attacking and biting people including me. Here are some of the responses I received when I contacted CUPA and the BBMP. CUPA, Hebbal: “Why don’t you try to befriend the dog?” CUPA dog pound, Koramangala: “What are you doing that is making the dog bite you?” BBMP helpline: “We can only sterilise the dog. If it is already sterilised, there is nothing we can do.” BBMP health inspector: “Supreme Court of India has ruled that stray dogs have a right to be on the streets.” Police: Laughter. This is the ground reality. For all those who made the suggestion of contacting the concerned authorities, please try contacting them yourself and see what happens, before you suggest the same to others.
— Swetha Malhotra

Rabid canine dies a dog’s death

2010-12-28T20:30:00.003+05:30

Courtesy: Bangalore Mirror

The mad dog, which had bitten at least a dozen people and several other dogs, was cornered after an eight-hour chase by an angry mob. The dog was beaten to death, tied to the back of a two-wheeler, dragged through the streets, and eventually, the body was tossed on to a pile of garbage.

The scene at BTM Layout Second Stage on Sunday evening was an unusual one. A noisy group of about a dozen people, armed with sticks, pickaxes, sickles and cycle chains, roamed the streets. Fear was writ large on the faces of those in the mob, but it also gripped the communit. Some residents barred themselves up in the safety of their homes, thinking a communal riot had broken out. The hunting party, however, were after a rabid dog, which they alleged had bitten more than a dozen people and several stray dogs in the area.
Fear turned into anger as the dog led the mob on an eight-hour chase. The cur was eventually cornered and the anger of the mob took a violent turn as the dog was beaten to death. The carcass was then tied to the back of a two-wheeler, dragged through the streets and tossed on a pile of garbage at a nearby slum.

The drama began around 3.00 pm when the dog began indiscriminately biting unsuspecting pedestrians and stray dogs. As the news of the dog on the rampage spread, people banded together to tackle the menace. But it wasn’t easy. “Each time we closed in on the dog, it somehow escaped,” Xavier A D, a member of the mob said. “Even while we chased it, it continued to bite people who happened to be in its way. In a threekilometre radius, it attacked at least 12 people and as many stray dogs,” Xavier said.
Rani Amma, 60, who lives in the slum, was bitten severely behind her left-knee by the dog.
“I was returning after collecting a bucket of drinking water when it pounced on me from behind and bit me severely,” she said. “I screamed and it ran away on seeing people running towards me.
“Had they not appeared on time, the mad dog would have killed me,” she said. Rani, for whom walking is now an excruciatingly painful process, is yet to receive treatment.
“I have no money and a chemist said the medicine alone would cost Rs 2,000. There is a government hospital (Isolation Hospital on Magadi Road) where treatment is supposed to be free, but the staff are known to demand money,” she said.
Lakshmi, another victim of the rabid dog, said: “I had gone to the market to buy vegetables when the dog suddenly jumped on me and bit me below my left knee. I fell and the vegetables rolled away.” Lakshmi, however, has taken the first dose of antirabies vaccine. Vanaja was not only bitten, but also sprained her ankle as she attempted to get away from the dog. She too has taken the first dose of anti-rabies vaccine.
Residents, however, fear another attack as the dog could have infected several other dogs in the area. “A stray dog in front my residence was severely bitten,” Xavier said. “It is now limping. We do not know when it will go mad. Our children now cannot cycle or play in the open.”
GNR Murthy, corporator of the area (Ward No 65), downplayed the entire incident.
“Only one person was bitten,” Murthy maintained. “I have asked the people concerned to catch all the stray dogs. I had constantly advised them to release the dogs elsewhere after they are sterilised, but they continue to release them here,” he said.
Dr Vivek Shetty, director Sri Sai Ram Hospital Dr Vivek Shetty, however, revealed that the sterilisation drive was just an eyewash.
“The dogs that are caught are neither spayed nor vaccinated,” he said. “It is only shown in the books. Sometime ago, they caught a bitch in the area, but it has twice produced a litter after it was released. How could this happen if the dog was sterilised?” he wondered.
Shetty plans to organise a free workshop to guide the residents on the medical procedures to be adopted in case of being bitten by a dog.
“It is a serious issue as rabies is fatal. In cases involving pre-exposure (where one is not sure whether the dog is rabid) people should take three injections — on the first day, the third day and the seventh day. But in the case of post exposure (where the dog is known to be rabid) people should take six injections — on the first, third, seventh, 14th, 28th and 60th days.
“One dose of the injection costs about Rs 370. It means a person with post exposure, as in this case, will end up spending a minimum of Rs 2,200. Not only that. In the case of a deep bite, people will also need to go in for two or three Rabdoglobin injections. Each of these will cost Rs 2,000,” he said.

FIR filed over dog killings in Mandya district

2010-12-21T18:41:00.000+05:30

Courtesy: MK Madhusoodan, DNA

Mandya, Bangalore: The Pandavapura police in Mandya district have registered a case against the temple trustees and some villagers following a complaint filed by an animal activist accusing them of killing about 30 dogs in the town on Sunday.

The complaint was filed on Sunday by Savitha Nagabhushana, a member of non-governmental organisation People for Animals.

The police have filed cases under sections 428 and 429 of Indian Penal Code and sections 3, 4 and 5 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which attracts punishment up to two years for killing animals without valid licence.

The Pandavapura police, however, are yet to make any arrests in connection with the inhuman killings of stray dogs around the Ahalya Devi temple.

"We are yet to arrest anyone as there is a stiff resistance from the temple trustees and villagers, who went ahead with killing of these dogs as decided by the village panchayat earlier," said a local police officer.

The killings were reported after a recent incident when a devotee was mauled by some dogs.

The Ahalya Devi temple is known for animal sacrifice to appease the Goddess seeking blessings to prevent road accidents.

Pup for adoption - Bangalore

2010-12-21T03:07:00.005+05:30

She was toddling along the main road outside my house , and i watched as she constantly fell into ditches and so took her in. She looks a little over a month old and is white with brown patches, black ears and a blackish snout. She is extremely friendly and playful and in the last few days that she has been here she has put on weight and is looking healthy and well.

Two from her litter were run over by a large vehicle near the Ashoka pillar. I could not find her mother. She has been with me for 4 days now. She really likes chew toys and gunny bags.

For Starters. She is great around kids too ( young to teenage )

ADOPTED

Pet for Adoption, Bangalore

2010-12-21T02:13:00.005+05:30

Tyson has been rescued from a house which kept him caged all the time. Due to this, he is yet to develop certain canine instincts which could be done in time with some amount of training and care.

He is currently with an acquaintance of mine who has her hands full with two dogs already. She prefers that he would be sent to a dog owner or a person with some prior experience with dogs. He is extremely playful and docile and could be a worthwhile companion.

ADOPTED

Pets for Adoption - Bangalore

2010-12-15T01:37:00.014+05:30

If you would like to adopt one of these pets, please mail us at santosh2413@gmail.com.

All our pets have been neutered and vaccinated, and are looking for loving, permanent homes.

Adoption # 111

NAME :LOVEY

GENDER : Female
AGE : 2 months old

HISTORY : Brought in by a volunteer.
PERSONALITY : she is one of the sweetest pups, who loves to play with chewies and dolls
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 112

NAME :SWEETY

GENDER : Female
AGE : 1 and half year old

HISTORY : Abandoned.
PERSONALITY : she mingles with all dogs and loves to play with all, very friendly for a rottweiler.
SPECIAL CONDITION : she has a slight problem when she walks
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 113

NAME :CADDIE

GENDER : Female
AGE : 3 year's old

HISTORY : Abandoned.
PERSONALITY : she loves all the attention she gets from the visitors and the staff, loves to mingle with everyone.
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 114

NAME :HESPER

GENDER : Male
AGE : 5 year old

HISTORY : Abandoned.
PERSONALITY : Loves his space, would be suitable for a house who prefer a single dog
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 115

NAME :Rocky

GENDER : Male
AGE : 3 year old

HISTORY : Abandoned.
PERSONALITY : he is a one man dog, looks handsome and is very friendly with everyone
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 116

NAME :Blacky

GENDER : Male
AGE : 6 months old

HISTORY : brought in by a volunteer.
PERSONALITY : likes to play with other dogs, loves children.
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 117

NAME :HAPPY

GENDER : Female
AGE : 8 months old

HISTORY : bought in by a volunteer.
PERSONALITY : she loves to play with the visitors, pups and dogs.
SPECIAL CONDITION : 3 legged dog
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

Adoption # 118

NAME :SNOWPY

GENDER : Male
AGE : 2 and half months old

HISTORY : bought in by a volunteer.
PERSONALITY : she would definitely bring in a big smile on the person who adopts her.
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 119

GENDER : Female
AGE : 2 months old

HISTORY : bought in by a volunteer.
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 120

GENDER : Male
AGE : 1 year old

HISTORY : Abandoned.
PERSONALITY : she is very friendly & can easily adjust to a new home
SPECIAL CONDITION : has a small problem in her hind leg
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 121

GENDER : Male
AGE : 1 and half year old

HISTORY : Abandoned.
PERSONALITY : friendly and loves to play with kittens
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 122

GENDER : Male
AGE : 3 months old

HISTORY : bought in by a volunteer.
PERSONALITY : Loves playing with toys, friendly and energetic.
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

Adoption # 123

NAME :SANDY

GENDER : Male
AGE : 2 year old

HISTORY : Abandoned.
PERSONALITY : loves to play all day long, and loves to go long walks
SPECIAL CONDITION :
TYPE OF GUARDIAN : For starters.

ADOPTED

CUPA & WRRC Calendar 2011

2010-12-10T22:05:00.004+05:30

The CUPA /WRRC Calendar 2011

A loving tribute to our dearest companions. Priced at 200, the calendar comes with two beautiful postcards.

To buy or preorder, please mail me at santosh2413@gmail.com

Please consider helping us in this endeavor. All proceeds from the calendar will go towards the rescue, feeding, treatment, and housing of the animals.

www.cupabangalore.org I www.wrrcbangalore.org