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200 dogs killed in India campaign

By GAVIN RABINOWITZ, Associated Press WriterTue Mar 13, 12:12 PM ET

 

Authorities in the southern city of Bangalore have killed more than 200 strays

in a bid to rid the city of dangerous packs of dogs, officials said Tuesday.

 

The killings of the animals in India's high-tech hub have sparked protests and

allegations of animal cruelty.

 

Officials launched a drive to round up strays last week after a young child was

mauled to death by a pack of street dogs, the second such deadly incident in

three months, Municipal Commissioner K. Jairaj told The Associated Press.

 

More than 1,300 dogs were captured in five days and more than 200 that were

identified by veterinarians as diseased, rabid or aggressive were euthanized,

Jairaj said.

 

The drive, however, has been suspended until more animal shelters can be built.

 

Animal activists also have protested, saying dogs were being indiscriminately

killed and cruelly treated.

 

Millions of strays live on the streets of India. Some, particularly in areas

near garbage dumps or butcher shops, form dangerous feral packs that have

attacked people. Rabies is also rampant.

 

Animal activists, who claim to support the plan in principle, say it has gone

horribly wrong, as overzealous laborers failed to differentiate between

dangerous dogs and " community pets " — somewhat tame animals that are cared for

by residents. These dogs, activists say, help keep wild dogs away from the

neighborhood.

 

" The commissioner has given orders that only sick, ferocious and dangerous dogs

should be taken, but on the ground level, even innocent dogs were picked up, "

said Sanober Bharucha of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action, which runs one of

Bangalore's largest animal shelters.

 

The shelter is already full of strays rounded up by authorities and has had to

suspend its regular operations, which include sterilizing and vaccinating city

dogs, while they deal with the newcomers, she said.

 

They have also had to turn away hundreds more dogs because they do not have the

space. " It is absolutely tragic, " she said.

 

Jairaj said the drive was suspended until three new shelters were built.

 

Bangalore residents allege that the wrong animals were captured and abused.

 

" I saw one white dog being dragged on the ground by a chord around her neck

while one of the catchers beat her with a plank that had nails embedded in it, "

said Jeremy D'souza, 42, who took part in a protest Monday night along with

about 500 other people.

 

" When I tried to get them to stop, they said, 'Why do you care how it's being

treated? It's going to be killed anyway,' " said D'souza, adding that the dogs

caught in his neighborhood had clipped ears — a common sign used by animal

groups to show they have been vaccinated and sterilized.

 

Pictures taken by D'souza showed one dog being hauled into a cage on a truck

upside-down by a wire cord around its hind legs.

 

Jairaj denied animals were mistreated and said all dog-catching teams were

accompanied by veterinarians. However, he said some dogs may have been left in

vans overnight once the shelters overflowed.

 

" People should look at this in some perspective. Public safety is first and

foremost, that is the issue here, " he said.

 

2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information

contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or

redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

 

 

2007 Inc. All rights reserved.

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