Image used for representational purpose

TIRUPUR: A group of residents from Konganagiri on College Road has lodged a complaint with the Tirupur north police against a fish vendor, who allegedly poisoned 18 dogs in the locality to death. The residents were alarmed after dogs, including strays, began to die one by one.

“They were found foaming at the mouth. Seven dogs were found dead on May 13, followed by four the next day. Some dogs, including one of mine, were struggling for life and were given medical treatment,” said AB Manikandan.

Doctors at a private veterinary clinic told the dog lovers that the animals had consumed poisoned food. “One of the residents, whose dog had died mysteriously, showed a CCTV footage showing a man on a moped giving some food to the dogs, which were killed. We identified him as Gopal, the fish vendor residing in the area,” Manikandan told TOI. “Gopal catches fish from an irrigation tank at night, bring them to his house and clean them before supplying to food stalls and hotels. Sometimes, stray dogs follow and bark at him when he rides the moped. Irritated over it, he has been killing the dogs by giving them fish laced with poison .”

Authorities should take action against Gopal and save the dogs, said N Chandrakala, another resident. “I have a pet dog and used to feed three strays in the locality regularly. Two of them are dead now,” he said. N Shanmughasundaram, who lost his pet dog, said, “When we showed the CCTV footage to Gopal, he refuted the charge. Police should arrest him and take action against him.”

Though the residents had submitted the CCTV footage as evidence, police are yet to register a case.

