SMS comes to rescue of dogs in misery

March 25, 2007

Ginnie Mahajan

Tuesday, March 20, 2007 22:54 IST

NEW DELHI: An anxious SMS is circulating around the Capital and other

cities, including Mumbai. It says: " Thirty three beagles rescued from

Ranbaxy Delhi up for adoption. Spread the word, very little time

left. " Nobody knows from where the SMS originated, from but everybody

seems to have received it.

The message's background is just as puzzling. Maneka Gandhi, BJP MP

and animal activist, alleges that Ranbaxy had imported some beagles

for testing its products. The procedures ended over two years ago and

the beagles have been kept in the company's laboratories, in

apparently inhumane conditions, ever since.

Gandhi said the company has not allowed anyone to inspect the dogs. " I

had approached Vijay Batra, Ranbaxy's head of generics, NDDS and drug

development, " Gandhi said. " I was told they are keen to put the dogs

up for adoption and asked our help in finding suitable families. "

But Ranbaxy seems unwilling to commit to the date of the dogs'

release. " They have cut off all lines of communication with us, " she

said. " None of us has been allowed to see the dogs or verify their

living conditions. "

Ranbaxy said it did import a select number of dogs for experimentation

in accordance with legal procedures. The company asserted that no

experiments had been conducted on the dogs marked for adoption.

" All the dogs are extremely healthy, and have been kept in conditions

that are compliant with the government rules. The dogs are of varied

age groups and have been with us for some time, " the Ranbaxy

spokesperson said.

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