Humane history in Kolkata

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From the National Humane Review, May 1935:

 

 

Animal Protection in India

 

One of the oldest societies for the protection of animals is

that at Calcutta, India, whose report of a year's activities has

come to hand. This society came into existence in 1861 and has

completed 73 years of service. It receives a government grant, but

much money must come from other sources to maintain the work at its

proper standard.

 

The most striking fact in the report is the record of 9,323

prosecutions for a year's work, with convictions in 7,908 cases.

Ten cases resulted in acquittal; in 1,038 cases the accused

absconded and could not be traced. One reason why so many offenders

cannot be dealt with is that the carts are registered in the names of

infants, deceased persons, or almost anyone except the actual

owner. The society has found that the only sure way to secure

immediate help for an unfit animal is to arrest the person in charge

and remove the animal to the society's hospital.

 

The society maintains nine weighbridges which are in constant

use to test carts suspected of being overloaded. Excess loads are

removed and, if not claimed by the owner, or taken to a storehouse

maintained for the purpose. Before power to remove excess loads was

granted, overloading was exceedingly common. Free dressing stations

are maintained at the weighbridges, and during the year 3,439 cases

were treated and the carters released without prosecution.

 

During the year 1,057 diseased pariah dogs were collected and

humanely destroyed and homes were found for a number of healthy

strays.

 

The Calcutta Society is also headquarters for the All India

SPCA, which was inaugurated at a conference in Delhi in 1929.

 

 

 

--

Merritt Clifton

Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE

P.O. Box 960

Clinton, WA 98236

 

Telephone: 360-579-2505

Fax: 360-579-2575

E-mail: anmlpepl

Web: www.animalpeoplenews.org

 

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