A nine-month-old Labrador has become the centre of an unusual dispute in Uttar Pradesh’s Hamirpur district — two families are claiming to be its rightful owner. The tug-of-war over the light brown pooch began when Shripat Kushwaha, a resident of Kundoura village, filed a police complaint on Monday alleging that Ghanshyam Yadav of Bharwa Sumerpur town took his dog from outside his house on Saturday, claiming it as his own. Ghanshyam, however, contended that his dog had gone missing a fortnight ago. Upon hearing it had been spotted in Kundoura village, he went there and brought it back home. The dispute has grown increasingly complicated as the dog appears to respond affectionately to both claimants. When Ghanshyam calls the dog by the name Bhura, it runs straight to him. And when Shripat calls it Sheru, the dog wags its tail and circles him in a playful and familiar manner. Police are now stumped trying to determine who the true owner of the Labrador is as neither family had registered the dog with the authorities. “The two parties have been asked to submit evidence supporting their ownership claims. Shripat has been instructed to bring the veterinary doctor, who had earlier treated the dog, as proof,” said Anoop Singh, Station House Officer, Sumerpur police station. Ghanshyam, on the other hand, has been directed to produce additional documents or witnesses to substantiate his claim. Police officers said they also plan to call the village pradhan to help verify the claims. The dispute has drawn strong emotions, with members of both families — including children — gathering at the police station, tearfully pleading with officers to hand over the dog to them. Shripat’s son, Subhash (28), claimed the dog had been gifted to him by his friend, Lallan Singh. “I will take Lallan and the doctor who vaccinated the dog to the police station as proof,” he said. Subhash said when their dog went missing on Saturday, he immediately shared its photograph on social media in an effort to locate it. “On Sunday afternoon, we received information that our dog had been spotted at Ghanshyam’s house. When we went there to bring it back, Ghanshyam refused to hand it over and got into an argument with us,” he claimed. He added that following the altercation, they approached the police station and filed a formal complaint. According to police, Ghanshyam, however, maintained that his pet Labrador had gone missing around two weeks ago. He told the police that after receiving information that the dog was seen in Kundoura village, he went there and found it tied outside Shripat’s house and brought it back. Ghanshyam could not be reached for comment.
