Animal lovers protest alleged culling of street dogs by Kolkata residents

Animal lovers, activists and concerned citizens on Tuesday marched in protest and started an online petition against the alleged culling of at least 16 street dogs by illegal dog handlers paid by a section of residents of a housing complex in the city.

According to Gopa Ganguly, a resident of Diamond City West complex in south Kolkata, street dogs are being trapped inside gunny bags and beaten to death by certain dog handlers at the behest of a section of residents.

"We have been protesting against this but the perpetrators have threatened us and attacked us. The strays are not mad dogs," she said.

Animal lovers gathered at the Sarsuna police station to register a complaint and demanded immediate action.

Trinamool Congress leader Deboshri Roy, also a well-known animal rights advocate, expressed solidarity with the animal lovers and activists and demanded the perpetrators be punished.

A petition launched online has brought the issue to focus.

"The strays there are being relocated and most of them getting killed by illegal dog handlers (read killers) who are paid to do so by most of the residents of the aforementioned housing complex.

"Police complaints have been lodged by the animal lovers of the society, NGOs and individual activists. But the residents are getting more desperate and were trying to prove that street dogs should be killed for the betterment of human beings. So far, they have got around 2000 signatures (all by the residents) in support of this barbaric act."

--IANS

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