Culling of stray dogs in Shivamogga: 12 including gram panchayat secretary arrested

Shivamogga: Police officials have arrested 12 people, including a gram panchayat secretary in connection with the culling and burying of stray dogs in Rangapura village of Shivamogga district.

The carcasses of 30 to 40 dogs were found buried here recently but the exact cause of their death could not be ascertained due to the decomposed nature of their bodies.

According to the police, a contractor was hired to catch stray dogs and neuter them. But instead of neutering the dogs, the contractor culled them and buried them in a nearby forest area. Few of the Gram Panchayat officials too were part of the heinous crime.

An FIR in this connection had been filed by Shivamogga animal rescue club member, GS Basava Prasad. Post-mortem of 60 dogs was conducted and the skin, hair and liver samples have been sent to Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).