Mumbai: Hsg society accused of dumping strays in Aarey, two pups dead

A video that recently surfaced on social media showing a group of stray dogs and puppies being relocated via a small goods carrier to Aarey Milk Colony has left animal lovers fuming It is believed the canines were shifted from a housing society in Kandivli After learning of the clip individuals working for the welfare of stray dogs visited Aarey on Tuesday night and the following day They managed to rescue five dogs and a puppy and recover the dead bodies of two puppies suspected to have been killed by an animalFour individuals have been booked in connection with the matter under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita It is said that the people named in FIR are society members from Kandivli East from where the dogs were relocatedVijay Rangare honorary animal welfare officer and Mumbai president of the NGO People for Animals said ldquoAs per our information the stray dogs and puppies were picked up from a location near an SRA building in Kandivli on the instructions of some society members They were then released in a forested patch at Aarey We have registered a police complaint at the Samta Nagar police station against the society that is allegedlyresponsiblerdquoHe added ldquoOn Tuesday night a team member visited the spot where the dogs were relocated and we were able to rescue a dog On Wednesday afternoon many animal lovers came to Aarey and rescued four adult dogs and one puppy Unfortunately two puppies seem to have been killed by wild animals The bodies will be sent for postmortem examination to ascertain the cause of death We will be visiting the Samta Nagar police station again and demand strict action against those responsible for relocating the dogsrdquolsquoMonitor entry pointsrsquoWildlife conservationist Dr Jalpesh Mehta founder chairperson Empower Foundation decried the cruel dumping of canines at Aarey saying ldquoDogs that wander around and live on garbage are new to the forest habitat and attract leopards who are forced to consume the easily available lsquojunk foodrsquo without much effort And this causes mananimal conflict though such incidents have reduced drastically at Aarey due to the concentrated efforts of the forest department and citizens working to reduce garbage dumpingrdquoHe added ldquoReleasing stray dogs in large quantities in the area can lead to an increase in leopard attacks and impact biodiversity The dairy department needs to monitor Aarey Milk Colonyrsquos three main entry points to put an end to such illegal practicesrdquoLegal implicationsAdvocate Trivankumar Karnani criminal lawyer Bombay High Court termed the relocation of community dogs and cats from housing societies illegal ldquoCommunity dogs and cats in a housing society are governed under the Animal Birth Control Rule No 20 framed under Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Actrdquo According to Karnani the rule states that resident welfare associations are responsible for feeding and ensuring the wellbeing of community dogs and cats and mentions that they must work in tandem with local feedersAnimal lovers and the bodies of the two puppies that were likely killed by a wild animal PICsRanjeet JadhavCiting the law Karnani said ldquoAny attempt or act to relocate these animals would amount to the commission of cognisable criminal offences that invite the registration of a first information report under Section 325 mischief by killing or maiming animal read with Section 62 attempt to commit offence read with Section 35 act done in furtherance to a common intention of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita read with Section 111hij of the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act as relocation of the dogcat would lead to its maimingdeath due to lack of food availability territorial fightsrdquoldquoThe act of relocation at the behest of the managing committee would invite penal sections against all committee members and any other members who participate instigate encourage or abet the act of relocation as abandoning or relocation is illegal by an lsquoownerrsquo Animal Birth Control Rule No 20 applies statutory status as owners of community dogscats to resident welfare associations or managing committees Hence all those involved will be criminally liable and subject to criminal investigation and prosecution which could invite a jail term of five years or morerdquo he addedatOptionskeyd0ddb8ef8f1a62a8cdd22fac27fc5ea7formatiframeheight90width728params