Evidences of the scary reality and cruel treatment which the impounded stray dogs go through, just to make the city more convenient for humans

All those, who keep a faith that stray dogs in Shimla are nothing more than a menace and, therefore, should be removed from city streets, must go through some facts about the scary treatment, which the impounded dogs receive at the dog shelter, violating every law pertaining to animal welfare. We thought, we should help the busy public of Shimla to get some evidences of it. A report (with images), which a local animal activists and the president of SPCA, prepared after consistently tracing a municipal dog shelter in Shimla and shared with HW, puts the findings as followed:

Way back on 21st October 2011 the dog shelter in Bagh (near the Barrier), run by the M.C. had over 50 dogs, huddled up in 2 enclosures while 8 others were lying completely empty. Those dogs had been impounded there recently hence, they were relatively healthy despite being underfed, neglected and overcrowded.

On a subsequent visit on the 3rd of March 2012 there were only 16 dogs left, huddled up in one enclosure, all of whom were not only inflicted with mange/scabies but also seemed starved.

They seemed deprived of any food, medical treatment, living space, and had no protection from extreme weather conditions, which is not in compliance with the Prevention of Cruelty Against Animals Act .

The sanitary condition of the shelter was extremely appalling. Another dog’s carcass was in a garbage dumper right outside the shelter apart from the one inside the shed in an enclosure. These dog carcasses have been disposed off by the shelter staff in the garbage dumpers outside the shelter, which is not only against the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act but can also pose a health hazard to the people living nearby.

A dog’s carcass in a garbage dumper right outside the shelter



Who is responsible?

• There is staff deployed for the welfare of these animals , which is invariably found missing from the shelter. The Municipal authorities say that they had advertised inviting N.G.Os to take over the functioning of the shelter but nobody responded , which is not a valid reason or excuse for the negligence and pain the captured dogs were being subjected to.

• Out of well over 50 dogs that were impounded only 16 were found alive in March, out of which only 8 could be saved, that too only because a Shelter from Kasauli took them in. As if this was not enough, on 7th of March, 2012 more dogs had been brought to be kept in the pound, 4 out of whom were suffering from scabies and were being allowed to mingle with other dogs .No attempt had been made at segregating the diseased dogs or keeping them in a separate enclosure. Another relevant detail here is that dogs had been caught under the Animal Birth Control program and had been operated upon in the M.C.’s ABC-AR center before being shifted to the impound, which is against the guidelines of the program, which clearly state that all the dogs should be released where they had been picked up from, after their recovery. Here, not even 16 dogs were kept properly, 5000 is out of question.

• Though substantial amount of public money has been spent in the construction of the pound, the structure seems very illogical; except for one enclosure all others have an obnoxious slope, which has resulted in injury and even death of dogs in the past, specially the younger ones, few of which have even died after falling off the slopes and never being able to climb up. It also poses mortal threat to the staff working therein.

• The steps had broken edges even before the structure had been handed over by the contractor (dogs had been kept there even before construction work was complete, with no proper sanitation arrangements). Moreover, the facility also lacks any accommodation for the staff, where they can sit during duty hours and in future can be used by a night watchman. This has probably been the reason for remarkable absence of the staff even during duty hours when the “pound” was functional.

MC Shimla’s impractical approach and wastage of funds

Recently, we have been reading in the newspapers that Shimla has to be made Stray Dog Free. Well, What exactly is meant by this phrase?

Going by the newspapers reports, Shimla has approximately 5000 dogs on its streets. However, M.C Shimla has a dog shelter at Bagh, near the old barrier with a capacity of housing only 500 dogs .That’s just 10% of the total dog population, that too only the healthy and friendly ones that are easily caught by the dog catchers, and the recent developments in the matter of stray dogs would eventually result in overcrowding of the shelter, if impounding is a measure to reach the objective.

The M.C. had invited tenders for the upkeep of the pound. The minimum bidder requests for Rs. 40/dog/day in addition to fixed expenses etc. At this rate Rs.73, 00,000 will be spent only on feeding 500 dogs, who could fend for themselves for free if they are not impounded, not to mention other expenses like medicines and salaries of the staff that will further escalate the cost. For the entire stray dog population it becomes Rs.7,30,00,000, that too only for feeding; construction of more “pounds”, staff salaries and maintenance etc apart. The M.C. clearly does not have that kind of money and their existing funds could be used in much more important causes.

The Animal Welfare Board of India’s guidelines for undertaking ABC-AR should be strictly adhered to, right from the dog catching to their release, right from the vehicle required to the kind of food, water and shelter they are to be given.

Public’s part and responsibility in exposing these innocent animals to hell like treatment

People lodge complaints of “dog menace” for things as little as a dog sitting peacefully in their neighborhood. Complaints made on the basis of disease of an animal, signs of aggressive behavior or dog bite should be immediately attended to but not illogical ones made even if a dog happens to bark- this is not only inhuman and illogical but will eventually take a huge financial toll on the M.C. for taking care of these dogs; or alternatively, if things go as they did in the past, then on these poor animals that have to literally rot to death.

This way not only will the M.C. avoid suffering a financial crunch, the public grievances regarding dog bites will be adequately addressed; As only the aggressive or sick dogs will be kept in the dog pound- no longer a threat to the people but also so many innocent and friendly dogs will be saved from facing the horrific fate as evident in the pictures. Children in schools should be sensitized in this regard not only by their parents but also through programs organized by the M.C. telling them not to approach any animal of whose disposition they are not aware of. Even, a survey conducted by the W.H.O. also states that Animal Birth Control-Anti Rabies (ABC-AR) is the best long term method to control their population, not to mention that it is most logical and humane too.

The public should also mind its responsibility in asking for such a scary fate for these innocent animals. The public and media force the authorities to move the dogs, cull them or do whatever with them, but just remove them, so that the place could become more convenient for us. However, these animals also have rights, they are as much alive as any of us, and they claim the earth no less than the human race. They can feel the pain, but they can’t speak, therefore, be their voice and please keep the following points in mind whenever you hear of stray dogs as menace:

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