Dogs at the receiving end on Pune streets,animal lovers fume

It was then that Prarthana,who loves dogs,decided to keep an eye on stray dogs in her area. “Someone has to be responsible for them,” she says.

To make sure stray dogs and puppies in her area are safe,she has photographed them and given them names. This helps her keep track of them. “If one goes missing,I can get in touch with other dog lovers and find out,” she says,adding that she and her friends make sure they are in touch with the authorities regarding their vaccinations as well.

In light of recent cases in the city,such as a 13-year-old boy allegedly throwing several puppies into a river,animal welfare activists and volunteers are voicing concern over ill-treatment of dogs. “Laws that prevent cruelty to animals are not very strong in India,” says Darshana Mujumdar,an animal rights activist. “Police do not take these complaints seriously. No punishment is given,” she says.

Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Singhal says,“If a citizen complains to us,we register it.” But if junior officers do not register complaints,citizens should approach seniors like DCPs,he adds.

Most activists feel people in general hesitate to register complaints. Manoj Oswal,Animal Welfare Officer of the Animal Welfare Board of India,says,“About 70 per cent of the cases of atrocities against animals are registered through us. We register about 3-4 cases with police every month in Pune city. On an average,we register about 30-35 cases of cruelty to dogs every year.”

“The individuals are booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960 and Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code,” says Himanshu Maratkar,an animal rights volunteer. If found guilty,offenders can be imprisoned for two to five years and fined as well.

PCMC veterinary chief Dr Satish Gore says their department gets complaints of cruelty to animals,especially dogs. “Such incidents do happen,especially when it comes to stray dogs. If a dog barks at or pounces on someone,residents beat up the dog. In such cases,if residents contact us,we can always take possession of the street dog,” he says.