Letter to AWBI SOS for Assam`s homeless dogs and primates crisis

[Guest guest]

Sorry, missed out attaching the news report - Azam

 

 

 

On Nov 17, 2007 1:00 PM, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 wrote:

*The Secretary/ Chairman* Dated: 17th November`

2007

 

> Animal Welfare Board of India.

> Animal Welfare Division,

> Ministry of Environment and Forests.

> Government of India

>

> *

> Sub: SOS for Assam`s homeless dogs and primates crisis*

>

> Sir,

>

> Please find a news report published in today`s daily, The Telegraph below

> : " MLAs fed up with monkeys, dogs- Government forms panel to rein in

> four-legged tormentors " .

>

> It may be noted that the situation in Assam or to be more specific in

> Guwahati city is not as alarming with regards to the homeless dogs as

> alleged by the MLAs.

>

> Although the issue of monkeys (rhesus macaques) has seen a rise in certain

> localities, yet it is not even 20% of what New Delhi city is facing right

> now.

>

> I wish to draw the attention of the AWBI to the panel which has been

> formed by the Government to handle the crisis and request the AWBI to see

> that no dog is made to unnecessarily suffer due to this allegation here in

> Guwahati and Assam.

>

> Most of the Dogs in Assam and Guwahati city have already landed up in

> Nagaland due to the steady demand of Dogs which are used for consumption.

> More are being transported every day. In the past activists of 'People for

> Animals' had rescued many such packs of dogs tied in gunny sacks from

> traders in the Assam- Nagaland borders and elsewhere.

> The state Government of Assam and the respective district administration

> has totally failed to put a check on this brutality.

> The state of Nagaland and the administration there is blatantly violating

> the rules of the PCA act and allowing the sale of Dogs for meat.

> We have enough proof of Assam dogs being sold in the markets of Dimapur

> town market (adjacent to the Railways station) and the capital Kohima (in

> main Kohima market and the Fire station market).

> Recently PETA-India officials visited Nagaland and have taken pictures and

> video of Dogs tied i gunny sacks in the Dimapur market which can be sought

> from PETA-India.

>

> May I request to make an appeal or if possible take necessary action

> against these offenses being allowed to be practiced by the two states of

> Assam and Nagaland.

>

> Also I would request the AWBI to make the existing rules and laws

> available to the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) authorities, the state

> administrations of Assam, the DFO- Assam State Zoo and the Government of

> Assam so that they do not go the Bangalore way and carry out mass slaughter

> of the dogs and primates here because of no fault of theirs.

>

> Some names and and addresses of the officials concerned are:

>

> 1. Shri. Rajesh Prasad.

> Commissioner,

> Guwahati Municipal Corporation

> Panbazar, Guwahati- 781001

> Ph: 0361- 2540525, 2540623, 2542669

>

> 2. Shri Tarun Gogoi- Chief Minister Assam

> Chief Minister

> Dispur, Assam

> Ph: 0361- 2262222, 2261112,

> 2262781, 2262069(fax)

>

> 3. Shri. Narayan Mahanta,

> Divisional Forest Officer,

> Assam State Zoo,

> Zoo road, Guwahati.

> Ph: 9864055135

>

> 4. Mr. Neiphi-u Rio

> Chief minister- Nagaland,

> Mr. Lalhuma, IAS.

> Chief Secretary,

> Government of Nagaland

> Kohima, Nagaland

> Ph: 0370 2270082, 2270076, Fax:2270057

>

> Please treat this as an URGENT SOS as in the past we have seen many

> examples of Municipal corporations and state governments carrying out

> ruthless killings of homeless animals taking the animal people by surprise.

>

> Hope such a disaster is averted at least in Assam.

>

> Thanking you,

>

> regards,

>

> Azam Siddiqui

>

> Master Trainer in Animal Welfare (2001)

> AWBI.

>

> Member: PETA-India, PFA

>

> Address: 107/C, Railway Colony, New Guwahati- 781021, Assam

> Ph: +91 94350 48481.

>

> Copy to:

>

> 1. Ms. Anuradha Sawhney, Chief Functionary, PETA- India

> 2. Smt. Maneka Gandhi, Chairperson, People for Animals

>

 

 

News report attached below:

 

Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1071117/asp/guwahati/story_8558022.asp

 

*MLAs fed up with monkeys, dogs*

* - Government forms panel to rein in four-legged tormentors A* STAFF

REPORTER

 

*Guwahati, Nov. 16:* The stray dog who dared to vomit in the corridor of the

Assembly when the honourable Speaker was passing by cannot possibly be

identified and punished. Neither can the cellphone and toothpaste-loving

monkeys who torment several legislators' constituencies or the canines who

spoil their morning walks in the residential wing of the capital complex.

 

But that has not stopped Assam's elected representatives from insisting on

and getting yet another " high-powered committee " , this time to find out how

how to keep simians and stray dogs from ruining their peace of mind.

 

After four days of animated debates on weighty topics ranging from floods

and digital electricity meters to Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's indictment for

the " secret killings " , peals of laughter echoed in the Assembly today as

legislators found time to narrate stories of their close encounters with

monkeys and dogs.

 

It did lighten up the atmosphere and elicit some cheeky remarks, but the

legislators who spoke about their experiences looked suitably serious.

Veterinary minister Khorsing Ingti promised action against stray dogs when

Speaker Tanka Bahadur Rai corroborated reports about canines soiling the

hallowed corridors of the Assembly.

 

Some legislators whined about a pack of stray dogs lurking in the complex,

ready to attack them during their morning walks and other outdoor

activities.

 

Guneshwar Das of the Assam United Democratic Front spoke about monkeys

harassing people in Raha constituency, while Hiren Das of the AGP said

simians in his area, Mangaldoi, specialised in snatching cellphones from

passersby. Das did not stop at that. " The monkeys even take away toothpaste

to maybe brush their teeth or something like that, " he added, leading to

guffaws all around.

 

His party colleague from Hajo, Nurul Hussain, claimed that his constituency

had the most number of monkeys and that people were fed up with them.

 

Education minister Ripun Bora admitted it was a unique problem and needed

attention, and another member did an educated analysis of the link between

destruction of monkey habitats and their proliferation in human settlements.

 

 

Forest minister Rockybul Hussain gave a committee headed by the chief

conservator of forests (research, education & working plan), R.P. Agarwal,

and including the DFO of the Assam State Zoo, Narayan Mahanta, three months

to suggest corrective measures.

 

Till then, legislators will just have to wag the dog who soils the corridor

and endure the monkey who sneers at them from the safety of his favourite

tree.

 

 

>

>

> --

> Fight captive Jumbo abuse, end Elephant Polo

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

>

>