Chennai: Dead stray dogs packed in gunny bags and put out in the open in the city corporation’s dog shelter in Kannamapettai near T Nagar led to an argument between locals and workers in the shelter last week.
Following the recent clash, residents of the nearby neighbourhoods - Kamarajar colony, Lalithapuram, Muthurangan street - demand closure of the pound fearing disease outbreak citing alleged unhygienic practices in the burial ground.
According to the staff, close to 400 dogs have been buried in the facility since its inception in 2014.
The facility at Kannamapettai spread over two acres was the first dog shelter run by a civic body in the state. "Ever since its inauguration in 2014, residents have opposed it," one of the staff in the shelter told DC.
The issue reached a vantage point recently when workers allegedly left two dead dogs unattended in a gunny bag. Clicking pictures of the Carcass (available with DC), a group gathered outside the shelter and picked up an argument with the staff there. A petition was sent to the City Police commissioner by the local DMK functionary, J. Karunanidhi demanding the closure of the shelter.
“The dogs are a menace. People from other neighbourhoods come and leave their sick dogs at the shelter and it has increased the stray dogs in our area.
There is also the issue of stench,” T. Sengammal (59), a resident of Kamarajar colony said.
When contacted, Dr Sollin Selvam, veterinarian, in-charge of the shelter, said that it was true that the dead dogs were kept in the open last week. The dogs had died of heat stroke. “But, our staff were cleaning up the kennels early in the morning when residents clicked pictures. The dogs were going to be buried in a few hours. But, the men simply wouldn’t listen,” the doctor said.
The doctor said that the shelter has been at the receiving end of an unjust target by the residents. “Even when there is a stray dog in the neighbourhood, public come and argue with the staff. They argue that dogs shouldn’t be buried. But, we have a burial ground and we are operating by the government rules,” he said.
Staff at the pound says that they couldn’t get away with unhygienic practices as alleged by the residents as dog owners and animal rights activists visit almost every day. On Monday, the trees and bushes in the burial ground were being cleared to make more space for the burial of dogs.
