Dear Mr. Dinesh Brambhatt,
SUBJECT : RAJKOT MUNICIPALITY ’S HIGHLY UNFAIR, AND UNLAWFUL ‘ACTION’ AGAINST STREET DOGS, IN THE MATTER OF THE MUCH PUBLICIZED BLACK BUCK DEATHS DUE TO NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF THE ZOO STAFF
We have received several complaints regarding the Rajkot Municipality’s ‘initiative’ of penalizing street dogs for the much publicized deaths of black bucks that resulted due to negligence on the part of the zoo staff !
The initial reports regarding the deaths affirmed that they occurred due to security lapses at the zoo – the security guards were sleeping, and some hapless, hungry canines, in search of food and survival, managed to get into the black buck enclosure despite the security guards. In fact, the Times of India report confirmed that action would be taken by the administration against the security agency.
Other, unverified reports doing the rounds seem to indicate that a forensic report has revealed that the deaths were owing to internal hemorrhages, and not as a consequence of street dogs ‘attack’.
Be that as it may, yet another news report, and the complaints that we continue to receive affirm, that Rajkot municipality staff have been rounding up stray dogs ‘for the crime’. Apparently, in the first instance they went around checking the mouths of dogs around Padhhman Nagar, and arrested the dogs whose mouths were found with some traces of deer Blood ! How they accomplished this indomitable task is a mystery for us all. The hapless animals were then caged, without food and water as per the reports received by us, and eventually dumped on some highway.
We also understand that currently, an intensive dog-catching drive is in progress. Under orders received from you, the municipality staff is on a catch and kill, or catch and dump on the highway, or on the outskirts, mission.
Please note, not only is your staff grossly violating the law – the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, and certain provisions of the Indian Penal Code – it is also, in effect, violating a Supreme Court order dated 23rd January, 2009, on the manner of dealing with stray dogs, passed in S.L.P. (Civil) No. 691 of 2009, titled ‘Animal Welfare Board of India versus People for Elimination of Stray Troubles and Others’.
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Needless to state, focus has shifted from the black buck deaths, which have resulted because of the incompetence of the zoo staff and security. Extreme animal cruelty and a senseless dog catching drive can never solve such problem and are being mindlessly resorted to.
Since what is occurring is contrary to law, I am calling upon you to recall the dog catching and removal orders. In place of the same, please take steps to commence the sterilization and vaccination of strays, to control their population and control the spread of rabies. The Secretary of the Animal Welfare Board, who can be contacted at the following address and telephone numbers, shall gladly guide you in this matter :
The Secretary
Animal Welfare Board of India
(Ministry of Environment and Forests, Govt. of India )
13/1, 3rd Seaward Road , Valmiki Nagar,
Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai – 600 041,
Phone-044-24454935 /58
Fax-044-24454330
The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, enacted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, provide for sterilization and vaccination, and prohibit destruction of healthy strays. Dislocation of dogs i.e. picking up dogs from one area, and releasing them in another area, is not permitted either.
You are pursuing a course of action that is obviously contrary to the law of the land. I therefore request you to recall the orders issued, if any, for the dog catching and removal drive that is reported to be in progress at Rajkot .
Yours Sincerely
(Dr. R.M. Kharb)
Maj.Gen.(Retd.), AVSM
Chairman
Mr. Dinesh Brambhatt
Municipal Commissioner
Rajkot Municipal Corporation building,
Ambedkar Bhavan,
Dhebarbhai Road ,
Rajkot -360001
Copy to: Mrs. Geetha Johri, Police Commissioner, Rajkot City Police, Police Commissioner's office, Near Race Course garden, Rajkot-360001
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