Shoot order for strays in Arunachal Pradesh, INDIA

[Guest guest]

The Telegraph, Guwahati, 07 Aug 2005

 

Shoot order for strays

A STAFF REPORTER

Guwahati, Aug. 6: The Papumpare district administration in Arunachal

Pradesh has given shoot-at-sight orders for ownerless canines in a

bid to clear the state capital, Itanagar, of stray dogs.

 

The order, issued under Section 133 CrPC, will come into effect from

August 12.

 

Papumpare deputy commissioner B. Gadi said over phone from Itanagar

that there has been an alarming growth in dog-bite cases. A few

people had even died of rabies. At least 28 such cases were

registered at the R.K. Mission Hospital and the government hospital

in Itanagar last month.

 

The events made the chief minister's office direct the district

administration to take immediate measures to check the " menace " .

 

Dog-owners have been asked not to allow their pets out on the

streets. " After August 12, if any stray dog is found on the road, the

police will shoot it, " Gadi said. The owners have also been asked to

vaccinate their dogs.

 

Besides, Gadi said accidents occur when drivers try to avoid running

over stray animals.

 

He added that shoot-at-sight orders had been given as there was no

other way to check the menace.

 

" In the absence of any NGO or society working for the stray dogs, we

have no option other than shoot them. If any NGO comes forward to

take care of the dogs, we would be extremely glad, " Gadi said.

 

In the same order, the administration has asked the veterinary

department to seize any stray cattle found on the roads and highway.

[Guest guest]

Dear AAPN Colleagues,

Many thanks for your emails that I had recieved with regards to the

Shooting order of Dogs in Arunachal Pradesh.

I am glad to inform you that with the support from activists such as

Maneka Gandhi and experts worldwide there was tremendous pressure

mounted on the Arunachal Government to withdraw their decision of

asking the police to shoot the stray dogs.

Yesterday I have been told that the shooting decision has been put on

hold by the government. This is a remarkable achievment, considering

the fact that there are no animal welfare organisations in Arunachal,

and so far all the voices that were raised was from outside the

state, and outside India.

The mails recieved in this regards were forwarded to the national and

local press circle, I tried my best to meet the media and provide

them with copies of the Prevention of Cruelties to Animals Act 1960,

which is there for the protection of destitute animals in India. The

press was extremly co operative in this regard.

Thanks once again to all of you, this again shows how effective

things turn out to be when there is such networking from all of us.

 

Dr.Ranjit Mendhir from Malaysia will be in India during the end of

this year.He has expressed his desire of neutering the stray dogs in

the capital city of Arunacla Pradesh, Itanagar. I will try and

convince the Government of Arunachal, since there are no shelters in

that state, it has to be done in aliance with the government.

 

Azam