Stop culling of dogs so that situation can be assessed: Animal body

In the wake of dog attacks in Sitapur, an animal protection body today said it had deployed a team to assess the situation there and asked the Uttar Pradesh government to stop the culling of canines so that the issue can be dealt with "humanely and legally".

Panic gripped Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh after around 12 children were mauled to death by dogs while many others were injured since last November.

The Humane Society International, India deployed a team of veterinarians, animal welfare officer and dog handlers to Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh to assess the situation and provide expert assistance.

The body did so after it received a request for help from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), it said in a statement.

After the children were reported to be killed, the reaction by local communities led to the indiscriminate and brutal killing of large numbers of street dogs, the body said.

"HSI/India has issued an urgent letter to the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh government and to the inspector general of UP Police urging dog culling to stop so that the situation can be properly assessed and dealt with humanely, effectively and legally," it said.

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, the culling and relocation of dogs is prohibited, prescribing instead spay and neuter of street dogs in the country, it pointed out.

The Supreme Court has also reiterated that all state governments must not resort to culling dogs but should carry out effective Animal Birth Control programs and anti-rabies vaccination, both of which HSI India specialises in, it said.

"We understand the seriousness of the situation however, indiscriminately killing street dogs who could well be entirely unconnected to the tragic incident, is both unethical and ineffective.

"This is the first incident of this scale to our knowledge, with previously seemingly harmonious co-existence of people and dogs. Random dog killing is more likely to see friendly and approachable dogs removed from the area, leaving space for new dogs to move in, and that helps no one," said N G Jayasimha, HSI/India managing director.

He pointed out that teams of HSI India were also meeting with the Forest Department tomorrow morning along with the Wildlife Institute of India.

"The people of Sitapur need to know that our trained professionals are taking every possible step to ensure this is dealt with in an effective way, and that means humane intervention to protect the public and animals alike," he said.

HSI/India carries out animal birth control programs around the country, including the neighbouring state of Uttarakhand where the charity has successfully spayed and neutered more than 70 per cent of the dog population there, it added.