After Mount Abu being declared an Eco-sensitive zone, it has changed the fortune of many a mongrel in our one horse town. The drive taken on by the Abu municipality to get rid of all its pie dogs with a vengeance has left me mind boggled , the cruelty meted out to the strays, caused my blood to boil. Their modus operandi is to sneak up behind the unsuspecting dog and then nab it by its waist with huge iron tongs, the dog writhes in pain and tries to attack the iron tongs hurting its mouth in the process, in the mean time two or three other dog catchers join in the melee with their tongs grabbing the dog by its neck or head, if the dog proves too strong for them then one of them delivers a resounding blow to the dogs head with his iron tongs knocking the poor animal unconscious or semi dazed. The dog is then lifted bodily with these tongs and thrown into a trailer behind a tractor. The dogs in this claustrophobic trailer are covered by galvanized sheets, the mongrels are so terrified in the dark that they lose their natural instinct to go for each other or for that matter to even growl. I’m sure it must have been the same for the prisoners who were led to the gas chambers during the Second World War.
Unfortunately, and fortunately for these dog catchers I did not have my camera on me as I was out walking my Basset hound, the video if taken of the scene I witnessed would have chilled the stoutest heart of any dog lover. I know I ran up to them and barged into them with a barrage of not too sweet words; they were caught off guard and cringed back when they saw me lift my cell phone to make a call. They released the writhing animal and scurried off with their tractor to an area up the road from where they had received a complaint from one of the residents living there, he had complained that his guests could not sleep as the dog made too much of a ruckus at night.
In respect to our mongrels I feel the increasing population of stray pigs should be taken care of. They rummage the surrounding area and rubbish bins by the side of the road causing the place to look like scenes out of some horror movie. Has anyone ever wondered what becomes of the poor mongrels huddled up in the trailer, well it is believed they are driven to some remote area way down the hill and then released to populate some other remote area. Dogs being dog are not easily fooled 50% of the veterans; sooner or later make it back up the hill. Some of the unfortunate ones end up as a delicacy to the dwindling panther population that inhabit this sanctuary of ours.
Meanwhile, animal lovers, if you see or read about atrocities on animals, especially our pariah dogs, you may write to your local animal welfare organization in Abu and the Animal Welfare Board of India, who in turn take action to stop the cruelty. The address
http://envfor.nic.in/legis/awbi/awbi13.html
Will post some snaps when the dog catchers are out the next time doing what they have to do.
ecosensitive doesnot touch the flora & fauna,you can get rid of humans but do not touch the others.Have a sleeping pill and let the lions roar ,you will enjoy your sweet slumbers.
ReplyDeleteMan there’s nothing left to roar in our exquisite forest, the tigers that once frequented this area are no more. The occasional barking of the stray dog is all one gets to hear within the town area I’m coming for the sleeping pills. Ains
ReplyDeleteMy dear friends if u want to do few positive things for poor dogs just give some medicines that cures scabies and they would be happy.
ReplyDeleteHi Mates
ReplyDeleteThis is what Jugal Tiwari an Ecologist has to say
Dear ains,
I read your reports regularly and appreciate your kind concern. You may remember me (Jugal Tiwari), I once met you at you place in Mt.Abu. I was in Mt. Abu for 5 years as a student 1975-1979 and after as an Ecologist in 2004-2005.
Your description of Flying Foxes was very good.
Regarding the cruelity with stray dogs, I can feel the pain by reading your report. Dogs are incidently the main preybase of Leopards in Mt.Abu. Sudden removal or relocation of these canines will have a bad impact on Leopard population in Abu.
This is 5 th year of my e forum on mountabubirding do open the link
mountabubirding : Mount Abu & Kutch Birdingmountabubirding: Mount Abu & Kutch Birding. ... Post message: mountabubirding@yahoogroups.com.au. Subscribe: mountabubirding-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.au ...
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Best regards
Jugal Tiwari
www.cedobirding.com
It is amazing that such cruelty towards animals should feature in idyllic Mt Abu. Even in Mumbai, the dogs are protected by the courts, and cruelty towards animals is a punishable offence. By nature, pariah dogs are friendly, loyal, and make good watchdogs - so what logic guides the municipality of the place defeats me. Again, a signature campaign by the citizenry might help change things for the better.
ReplyDelete