Kerala DGP directs police to take action against illegal culling of stray dogs

The AWBI said it has noticed an advertisement issued by “stray dog eradication group’ in vernacular media, which promised an incentive of Rs 500 for killing stray dogs. It wanted the police take immediate action against those who promised incentive for catching a stray dog.

The letter said the Supreme Court is seized of the stray dog issue and is hearing several petitions where the moot question is whether the municipalities can destroy stray dogs despite the existence of a Central law which clearly mandates that they cannot, while specifying the extreme circumstances under which humane euthanasia is permissible.

Senkumar said he has not issued any special direction to the district police chief regarding culling of stray dogs, but only handed over the AWBI’s letter in this regard for necessary action. “My job was only that of a post office in this issue. The letter is clear about the legal action to be taken,” said the DGP.

Last week, the AWBI had moved a petition in the Supreme Court challenging a 2006 verdict of Kerala High Court, which had empowered the local governing bodies to cull dangerous and rabid stray dogs. The court had posted the petition for further proceeding to November 18.

The AWBI, in its petition, had stated unless the term nuisance was not defined, the order of the Kerala high court could not be implemented.

The stray dog issue has snowballed into a major point of contention between animal lovers and victims of the menace in Kerala. Thousands of people, including minors, have been bitten or mauled by stray dogs. The state government had even convened an all-party meeting two months back to find ways to tackle the issue. The prevailing mood in the state has been that dangerous stray dogs should be culled.