NAVI MUMBAI: Animal rights activists will observe July 9 as "Poison
Biscuit Day" to mark the anniversary of the mass poisoning of stray dogs in Nerul four years ago.
"It was horrific to see more than 30 dogs lying dead on the streets of Nerul on the morning of July 9, 2008. They had all been poisoned by some insane people. We want this incident to be remembered all over India as Poison Biscuit Day," said animal welfare officer Ganesh Nayak of the NGO, Animals Matter To Me. "Though a complaint was lodged with the Nerul police, none of the accused could be traced. The authorities did not seem interested in investigating the matter," said a Navi Mumbai resident, adding animosity towards strays still continued. Denouncing such an act, founder of Plants and Animals Welfare Society in Thane Nilesh Bhanage said, "Regular anti-rabies vaccination of strays can check dog population. But poisoning is not the answer."
On Monday, animal lovers of Navi Mumbai have decided to meet at Vashi. "Through Facebook and Twitter, we are urging activists to update their status on July 9 as 'Poison Biscuit Day — No More Dog Murders!'. This should help create awareness that killing of any animal is cruel and unjustified," said Nayak. Welcoming the move, secretary of Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Lt Col J C Khanna said, "I remember the incident, the news shocked us."
Four years have passed since the "mass murder" but activists said the authorities had done little to curb the population of strays in Navi Mumbai. Recently, the civic body there had announced an outbreak of distemper among strays; many of the animals were subject to "mercy killing" owing to lack of an isolation ward. "Many dogs have disappeared. As there is no isolation ward at the Turbhe Dog Kennel, some of the distemper dogs are being locked up in dog-catching vans. We urge the civic authorities to be better organized for the sake of animals," said an activist.
"It was horrific to see more than 30 dogs lying dead on the streets of Nerul on the morning of July 9, 2008. They had all been poisoned by some insane people. We want this incident to be remembered all over India as Poison Biscuit Day," said animal welfare officer Ganesh Nayak of the NGO, Animals Matter To Me. "Though a complaint was lodged with the Nerul police, none of the accused could be traced. The authorities did not seem interested in investigating the matter," said a Navi Mumbai resident, adding animosity towards strays still continued. Denouncing such an act, founder of Plants and Animals Welfare Society in Thane Nilesh Bhanage said, "Regular anti-rabies vaccination of strays can check dog population. But poisoning is not the answer."
On Monday, animal lovers of Navi Mumbai have decided to meet at Vashi. "Through Facebook and Twitter, we are urging activists to update their status on July 9 as 'Poison Biscuit Day — No More Dog Murders!'. This should help create awareness that killing of any animal is cruel and unjustified," said Nayak. Welcoming the move, secretary of Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Lt Col J C Khanna said, "I remember the incident, the news shocked us."
Four years have passed since the "mass murder" but activists said the authorities had done little to curb the population of strays in Navi Mumbai. Recently, the civic body there had announced an outbreak of distemper among strays; many of the animals were subject to "mercy killing" owing to lack of an isolation ward. "Many dogs have disappeared. As there is no isolation ward at the Turbhe Dog Kennel, some of the distemper dogs are being locked up in dog-catching vans. We urge the civic authorities to be better organized for the sake of animals," said an activist.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Poison-Biscuit-Day-to-mark-dog-massacre/articleshow/14738379.cms
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