AP: NGO Seeks Government Action Against Killing of Stray Dogs
Referring to recent Supreme Court directions, Gopal said stray dogs could be relocated only to designated shelters after proper sterilisation and immunisation.
Vijayawada: Following reports of the alleged mass killing of stray dogs through the administration of lethal injections in parts of Andhra Pradesh, an NGO has sought the intervention of the state government to issue standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines to curb what it termed an illegal practice.
In a communication addressed to the AP Chief Secretary on Monday, Gopal R. Surabathula, founder-secretary of the Kakinada-based Animal Rescue Organisation, alleged illegal killing and unlawful relocation of stray dogs by local bodies, and failure to implement the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023 in the state.
He referred to recent incidents of mass killing of stray dogs at Dondapudi village in Gopalapuram mandal of East Godavari district and Velagaleru village in G. Konduru mandal of NTR district, where local bodies allegedly caused the death of several dogs by administering lethal injections. He also alleged that several local bodies were illegally relocating dogs without designated shelters and, in some instances, releasing them into reserved forest areas, posing a serious threat to wildlife and attracting violations of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The organisation urged the state government to issue a government order codifying SOPs, jurisdictional powers and responsibilities of urban local bodies, district societies for prevention of cruelty to animals, veterinary officers and NGOs. It also sought suspension of all animal birth control operations being carried out without a valid Project Recognition Certificate issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India, and an audit of all MoUs executed by ULBs with NGOs for ABC implementation.
Referring to recent Supreme Court directions, Gopal said stray dogs could be relocated only to designated shelters after proper sterilisation and immunisation. He requested that all District Collectors and chairpersons of district SPCAs be directed to immediately stop the killing and illegal relocation of stray dogs and take stringent action against local bodies involved in the use of lethal injections.