Abandoned pets struggle to survive

Chennai: Come summer, at the arrival of vacations, the number of animals, especially dogs, left abandoned on the streets increases manifold, with many being found tied to the gates of animal shelter at Blue Cross.

Citing the terrible things that pet parents do to dogs, which they bring up with love and care, by abandoning them ahead of a vacation, relocation, transfer, or simply because they lack commitment to further take care of the animal, Dawn Williams, the general manager at Blue Cross, said that a dog struggles to survive once abandoned.

“A three-year-old Rottweiler was found abandoned on the streets under the Kanathur police station limits, and the police there brought it to our notice,” he said, adding that such dogs miss their parents and stop eating once they are in a new place.

“I have been facing such incidents, day in and day out. An abandoned dog is confused, he hates mingling with any other human or dogs, and longs to meet his own,” he added.

Recently, volunteers of the organisation also rescued two starving cows from a hamlet in Chengalpet, abandoned by two families, which fled the place after a murder.

Every day, the Blue Cross gets over 100 calls from people who demand the shelter to take in their animals. Understaffed and facing a severe space crunch, the Blue Cross still houses such animals, he said.

“Either owners or kennel owners having long-pending dues from pet owners abandon animals housed by them,” he added. “But we can’t leave a dog to die on the roads so they are taken in. Despite making several efforts, the animals does not mingle with people or other dogs because that it gets conditioned to living with one family which it feels is its.”

“Kennel owners who offer hostels for are cheating businesses,” he added. “Dogs are caged in metal cages for long hours. They pay for AC comfort, but it is not provided. They easily come in contact with diseases from other dogs,” he said of a pet parent who shared the horrible experience her dog faced at a kennel.

He added that it is a criminal offence, which pet owners do with abandoning their animals, which amounts to animal cruelty under section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

Against law
Abandoning animals is cruelty to animals under  Section 11 of the PCA, 1960 (i) For the pet owner, without reasonable cause, abandons any animal in circumstances which render it likely that it will suffer pain by  reason of starvation thirst; or (j) Wilfully permits any animal, of which he is the owner, to go at large in any street, while the animal is affected with  contagious or infectious disease or, without  reasonable excuse permits any  diseased or  disabled animal, of which he is the owner, to die in any street;  Section 289 of The Indian Penal Code Negligent  conduct with respect to the  animal. —Whoever knowingly or  negligently omits to take such order with any animal in his possession as is sufficient to guard against any

This summer, keep a water bowl for birds and animals
Ahead of the searing summer that has already started making its impact on the city, several groups and animal lovers have come ahead to keep water bowls outside their homes to feed animals and birds.

Organizations like Life with Equality and Blue Cross of India have started giving out water bowls that would help animals like dogs, cows, and birds to drink water to get some relief from the scorching heat.

Residents of the city have also come forward to buy water bowls that could be kept by the roads or on their terraces.

“Every year, we provide cement pots but they get dirty and filled with fungus. Clay pots won’t have maintenance issues and are healthier,” said Sowmya.

“We saw the participation from many adults and children, enthusiastic to buy clay pots that we have started selling this year. They were priced nominally at ' 90 and Rs 150 for the two and three-liter pots so that people don’t shy from buying them.”

 She added that people are more conscious about helping animals beat the heat.

The LWE group is also giving away bird feeders made of discarded plastic bottles for free to those buying water pots.

Arun Prasanna, of People for Cattle in India, has launched an online campaign for more participation from the city masses in buying water bowls to help stray animals.

“Disappearance of sparrows is just the tip of the iceberg. It is imperative that we play our role by helping animals during this scorching summer,” said C Meera, an HR professional.