IRONICALLY CRUEL

Surprise check at SPCAs animal shed reveals the pathetic conditions in which animals are kept

VISHAKHA SHARMA

Pune Mirror - (Poona SPCA) Ironically Cruel

Nine injured dogs were rescued from Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in a joint venture by Jayasimha NG, PETA officer and co-opted member of Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI); Dharmesh Solanki, honorary animal welfare officer, AWBI; a Bombay High Court committee; Dr G.S Khandekar , research officer RIL and Manoj Oswal, animal welfare officer on May 28. The rescued dogs were handed over to the Blue Cross society. The animals were rescued after a complaint was lodged with the AWBI in Chennai. Shri Rajshekhar , secretary of the board ordered a surprise inspection of the Poona SPCA through its coopted members Jayasimha NG and Anuradha Swahaney.
A large number of animals have died at SPCA and the complete administration has broken down. Therefore, an immediate intervention was needed to save the 120 odd remaining animals. It was understood that most animals in the shelter were untreated and suffering, Manoj Oswal said.
The animals have been rescued but the shelter is in a dilapidated shape. It has to be ensured that now, these animals receive good quality food and treatment, as and when required, said Jayasimha NG from PETA.

THE INSPECTION REVEALED

The shelter has no trained personnel except the two vets and the manager has no prior experience in running an animal shelter. Vets spend most of the time treating animals in the OPD, which helps in generating money and most animals in the shelter are untreated. All animals are kept together irrespective of their health conditions. This leads to spread of disease from sick to healthy animals. Attendants are not vaccinated against tetanus and other communicable diseases despite some animals in the shelter being infected by these diseases Dogs are captured using wooden sticks Most of the animals are malnourished. Only 15 litres of milk is provided for 120 animals. Excreta is not cleaned. At times the municipal van doesnt come for days to collect the corpses of the dead animal, which are piled up in a cage and exude unbearable stench. Biomedical waste is strewn all around the shelter.