(IN) Welfare of street dogs

[Guest guest]

The past week has seen substantial headway in our campaign for street dogs.

 

On July 9, Mr. S. P. Singh, Commissioner of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal

Corporation (GMHC), announced the setting up of the Committee for control of

street dogs as per the Dog Control (ABC) Rules and has assured proper

implementation of the ABC Rules.

 

On July 10th, Mr. Jairam Ramesh, Hon'ble Minister for Environment & Forets,

Government of India released the comprehensive SOP for those intending to

carry out the ABC programme compiled by the AWBI. This is a long overdue

requirement in that good intentions are simply not enough and a minimum

basic infrastructure and the required level of hygiene, asepsis and surgical

skill and necessary aftercare is essential to ensure the minimum trauma for

the dogs involved and requires that any group involved in this programme

must be recognised by the Board irrespective of who funds the programme..

 

The Minister has also promised the necessary level of funding to start the

rabies-free India (RFI) campaign and requested the Chairman of the Animal

Welfare Board of India for the detailed roadmap to achieve this within 15

days.

 

I left Delhi on the afternoon of the 10th after the meeting was over while

the others present were at the Executive Meting of the AWBI.

 

When I reached home at 9pm, I was delighted to find the outline of the

roadmap for the RFI campaign in my e-mail. Kudos to General Kharb for such

swift action.

 

Thanks are also due to Mr. S. P. Singh and the NGOs of Hyderabad for having

been able to achieve the breakthrough in Hyderabad where the ABC programme

was in a shambles with unacceptably high rates of mortality and

complications in post-op dogs and terribly inhumane conditions at the GMHC

pound.

 

The Hyderabad rules also are a breakthrough in that they require mandatory

registration of all dog breeders since they have been responsible for the

puppy mill conditions prevailing at most breeders who have not bothered to

comply with the AWBI Rules so far and almost all of whom are involved in

this trade and business on a cash-and-carry basis and do not declare their

substantial incomes from this shameful trade.

 

If we can now get the Kennel Clubs to stop the dog shows where illegally

mutilated animals are allowed to be displayed and win prizes.... I am

referring to tail-docked and ear-cropped dogs where the mutilations are

stupidly done for purely cosmetic reasons. I am sure we will bring these

offenders to heel very soon, too.

 

S. Chinny Krishna

 

 

 

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" The hands that help are holier than the lips that pray "