Bandra

pets

chasing cars

Andheri

Mumbai

Over the past few months, the population of dogs inWest seems to have gone up, especially in the promenades of Bandstand and Carter Road. Animal activists say this is due to the fact that many dogs are being abandoned by their owners and left at the promenades. Activist Harsh Shah told Mirror, “Nowadays people are buying dogs like they purchase toys. When they grow old, they often require medical treatment, and that’s when the owners choose to abandon them, ignoring the trauma that thehave to go through in such cases.”Social activist Feroz Peerzada believes that people who abandon their pets must be prosecuted. “Fear is instilled in them via human selfishness. It isn’t their choice to be alone, and nor is it their fault,” he said. Law graduate Pooja Sandhu, who works for the betterment of strays, added, “Almost every day I come across disheartening cases of abandonment of pets. The lame excuses are always the same: someone couldn’t afford a medical bill, someone couldn’t digest the fact that their puppy grew into a large dog, someone couldn’t care for the old one or just a simple excuse ‘Don’t want it any more’ The breeders are to be blamed equally.”Because of the increase in the number of dogs in the promenade, there has also been a rise in the number of dog attacks reported in the areas. Local residents blame the authorities for not taking appropriate steps to reduce the menace. Pets can be seen roaming the streets,and often attacking pedestrians and schoolchildren.“Going for morning or evening walk has become tough,” said Carter Road resident Nitin Pol. Residents of Carter Road say that BMC seems to be unaware of various laws which deal with checking the menace. They say even after making several complaints to authorities, nothing much has changed. “Some of the dogs living in our area are rabid. Apart from dog bites, several accidents have also taken place as the dogs keep following motorists even in the dark,” said a resident.Asimilar situation has also been reported in Lokhandwala,West, and Oshiwara. “We are not able to understand why people leave their pets behind like this, when BMC has developed dog parks in every area. Our children fear to move out even during day. We appeal to BMC officials to check this,” said a resident. Meanwhile, authorities are trying to track down whoever dumped their dogs at Bandra, Carter Road and many other areas ofDr Yogesh Shetye, general manager, veterinary help, BMC, told Mirror, “First of all, those who have pet dogs must take a licence from the BMC. Secondly, the owner must take responsibility for the dogs, especially if they are ill. They can’t leave them like this. When they are abandoned on the road, from pet dogs they become stray dogs. We have a policy in BMC that when we catch strays, we vaccinate them and leave them. If we come across pet dogs, we call NGOs who work with BMC, and they take care of them.”