Animal shelter gets closure notice; has 15 days to argue effectiveness

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Malayinkeezhu Panchayat secretary has sought an explanation from the office bearers of People for Animals (PFA) shelter functioning at Valiyarathala to give reasons why the shelter should not be shut down. PFA was given the notice on Tuesday and the explanation has to be given within 15 days. The NGO is knocking on all doors to sustain its operations in the shelter where at present approximately 200 animals which include dogs and cats are housed.

PFA and a section of local people have been engaged in a battle against each other for the past several months. Two girl students had come to the PFA shelter to adopt two cats recently. When they were returning after getting their new pets, they found the tyres of their two-wheeler was deflated. PFA’s office bearers alleged that their driver, Rajeev was heckled several times whenever he brought in new rescue dogs for admission, by local goons led by G. Pankajakshan, Malayinkeezhu Congress mandalam committee president, who stays opposite to the shelter.

PFA’s full time member Sreedevi S. Kartha posting in the ‘PFA Trivandrum group’ in Facebook says, “But the most important (thing) is, this shelter that rescued, treated, saved, housed, adopted out thousands of orphaned, injured, animals, in the best possible way is an epitome upholding the fundamental right for compassion towards fellow beings”.

Pankajakshan has formed the Peoples’ Action Council which has got close to 25 members. Sreedevi told DC that the local Congress leader has led a few dharnas in front of the shelter and had resorted to verbally abusing the women office-bearers of the PFA.

“Pankajakshan has verbally abused us several times by alleging that we are society ladies and are resorting to sell stray dogs. A few of our volunteers who came to help us were also not spared by him and his goons. The local Malayinkeezhu grama panchayat president S. Chandran Nair is no better where he has in fact urged the locals to take up arms against PFA”, said Sreedevi to DC.

Meanwhile, those locals who are supporting the PFA shelter allege that Pankajakshan has taken a bribe from a builder who has eyed the vacant land next to the shelter. Beena Anish, PFA centre manager told DC that recently several locals realized why Pankajakshan has been trying to evict them.

“A majority of the locals are afraid of Pankajakshan and his goons. But the heartening thing is that many have realized the modus operandi of Pankajakshan”, said Beena.

However, Pankajakshan vehemently denied the allegations raised by a section of the locals and PFA members. He told DC that he would go to any length to have the shelter shut as it has to be moved away at least by 500 metre from human habitation.

“I have been born and brought up here at Malayinkeezhu Valiyarathala. I am a Congress leader who has been working against land and sand mafias all through my life. The normal lives of locals have been affected in terms of their health and there is also noise and air pollution due to the PFA shelter”, said 60-year-old Pankajakshan.

PFA trustee Latha Indira told DC that whoever visited the shelter was convinced that there was no foul smell emanating and it was functioning as per norms.
“The reasons mentioned in the notice seeking our explanation in order not to shut down are childish. It says that as per Kerala Panchayat Raj (Licensing of Pigs and Dogs) Rules, 1998 and Kerala Panchayat Raj (Licensing of Livestock Farms) Rules, 2012, we have to explain the reasons for not shutting down the enclosure”, said Latha.

PFA office-bearers have appealed to the general public for their support, “to stand up to save the most deserving living beings on earth and stay put till we ensure abandoned animals will not be robbed off their only home where food,
treatment, and care are lovingly offered. Selflessly, unconditionally....”