Ernakulam: “We are indeed happy that the Chief ministers office intervened in this issue so as to deal with those targetting people like us who have been feeding and saving stray dogs from regular attacks”, said Renuka Krishna, a housewife who has been protecting and feeding stray dogs with the help of NGOs and like-minded people.
Renuka’s words comes a day after Chief Minister has directed the state police chief to urge all station house officers to register criminal cases against residents’ association office-bearers and residents who resort to harm those people who feed stray dogs. The order came after Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan got a complaint from R V Suveni, an under secretary working in the water resources department in Secretariat, who was attacked by local residents for feeding strays in her neighborhood.
As per police sources, the maximum complaints against dog feeders and rescuers were reported during the Covid-19 pandemic as most of the public was confined to the apartments, houses and rented facilities where people had brought pets and started taking care of them in large numbers.
“But eventually, those living in places where a large number of families reside there was few who had been inconvenienced with people who feed dogs. However, the trend later grew and many stray dogs were fed by animal lovers leading to others targetting them. The complaints had increased in the last two years. However, there is no precise numbers of such complaints”, said an SHO from Ernakulam.
For many animal rescuers, the direction from the Chief Ministers office to the state police chief to come out with a circular informing all SHOs in the state that they should register criminal cases against those who resort to harm the people who feed stray dogs is a huge relief.
Ranjith krishnan, a 50-year-old stationary residing in Chevayoor in Kozhikode had a narrow escape from the ire of residents’ association members in the neighbourhood during the Month of April. Ranjith was attacked with stones by a group of people after he was alleged to have been ‘protecting’ and feeding stray dogs that is causing harm to the local people.
“I was chased by a group of people after they asked me to close my pet home which me and my wife is been running since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. I had to face the ire of the neighbours in this vicinity many times. However, I am not sure if this direction from the DGP is going to make any change as most of the people living here are influential and there is no point in getting into a fight with them”, said Ranjith.
However, the new direction is a relief for the various NGOs and animal lovers, rescuers who have been tirelessly working towards protecting and feeding stray dogs and other animals at the cost of the anger and ire of those allegedly targetting them.
As per police sources, the maximum complaints against dog feeders and rescuers were reported during the Covid-19 pandemic as most of the public was confined to the apartments, houses and rented facilities where people had brought pets and started taking care of them in large numbers. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
