Culling of stray dogs in Shivamogga: Police book Gram Panchayat members

Shivamogga: Members of Kambadal Hosur Gram Panchayat have been booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 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. It is however suspected that 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 involved in this act and a case has been registered against all of them, the police official added.

An FIR in this connection had been filed by Shivamogga animal rescue club member, GS Basava Prasad.

Speaking to ANI Prasad claimed, “Three days ago we got a call from people of the village stating that 150 to 200 dogs have been buried alive in the forest area. On receiving the information our team visited the place. We got to know that village gram panchayat member president, Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) all are involved in this case. Later we came to know that the actual number of dogs buried alive was more than 300.” “Actually they should have applied for animal birth control tender. In this, a prescribed procedure is followed which includes operations wherein medical facilities are also provided for the animals. But these people do not know anything about animal birth control. What they did was they caught all the dogs and dumped them alive in a small pond and closed it,” said the animal rescue club member.