Animal welfare activists protest Karnataka government’s apathy towards stray animals

Bengaluru: Animal welfare activists in the city gathered at Freedom Park Sunday to protest against the govt's apathy towards stray animals, especially dogs.Demanding an immediate govt order to address harassment faced by dog feeders, the 200-odd participants, including animal welfare NGOs, individuals who feed stray animals, and other animal lovers, flagged several issues plaguing the implementation of animal birth control (ABC) programme in the state and urged authorities to address them before targeting feeders.

The protest follows the modified Supreme Court order on stray dogs, which instructed state govts to submit a compliance report on the ABC initiatives implemented by animal husbandry departments and municipal authorities. The protestors urged the state govt to address lack of veterinary infrastructure for vaccination and sterilisation in districts and sought clarity on the term, ‘aggressive dogs' and wanted information on ways to identify such animals. Insisting on the rights of stray dogs to their territory, Abhishek R Koundinya from United for Compassion said: "Kannadigas have accepted people from across the country and abroad. Why, then, are we not accepting animals which have been here for generations? Animal lovers are not human haters. We all must work as a team and find solutions." Sadhana Hegde from Sahavarthin Animal Welfare Trust pointed out that in districts apart from Bengaluru, cases of bites by squirrels, monkeys, and pet animals are being clubbed under stray dog bites.

She also highlighted the ambiguity in the terms of the order. "The court has instructed municipalities to create designated feeding spaces but has also sought elimination of feeding in public places. Where will the feeding points be if not on a street?" she questioned.

Supriya HB, an activist and feeder from Jayanagar, said the complaints by feeders and activists are hardly ever taken seriously. "Even incidents of cruelty on stray, domestic, as well as wild animals are plenty; police hesitate to file FIRs. The laws against animal cruelty are over 50 years old," she said.