THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government launches schemes to rehabilitate homeless voters but when it comes to animals they hardly show any interest as these creatures have nothing to offer in return. None of the local bodies across the state has a ‘pound’ to accommodate homeless and tortured animals.
Following inspection by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a leading circus management at Thrissur surrendered all of their performing animals including a camel, seven horses and ten dogs.
AWBI had found that the condition of the animals were miserable and they were not even fed properly. However, the authorities were in further trouble, when the circus management displayed a willingness to relinquish the animals and make their circus camp animal-free.
AWBI officials had no other choice but to transfer the animals to the animal rescue centre at Malayinkeezhu operated by People for Animal (PFA) in the state capital. The female camel rescued from the circus camp has been transported to another shelter home in Maharashtra.
Secretary of PFA Leela Latheef, who is on a mission to rehabilitate and treat abandoned, sick animals on the streets, said that the conditions of the animals were pathetic.
“The horses look lean and unhealthy due to lack of food while the condition of the dogs is pathetic. We normally rehabilitate the animals and put them up for adoption when they are fit and healthy.
But in this case, the condition of the dogs is miserable. Some of them are in critical condition and have severe infections. One of the dogs is partially blind and has an infection. We will not be able to put them up for adoption,” said Leela Latheef.
She said that they were only too happy to provide shelter but space constraints were an issue. “As per rules, all local bodies should have a pound. The problem is that the authorities are hardly interested in such matters. Our state’s interest in animal welfare is purely academic and they are least bothered about such issues,” said Leela.
