Dr B Thomas (Special correspondent)
The Anti Cruelty Officer Mr.Tarun Agarwal from People for Animals along with the police,rescued a 1.5 year old pet dog from a house in Avalahally on Friday.
The pet dog Sweety was being beaten and tortured by its owner on the pretext of discipline and training .
Sweety the rescued dog,has been handed over to Sanjana Madappa,Trustee of Second Chance Sanctuary,for rehabilitation.
A case was filed by Tarun K Agarwal against the owner of the pet identified as Venkatesh prasad, 38,a techie by profession and residing in Mathrushree Layout,Maragondanhalli village,in the outskirts of the city of Bengaluru.
Based on the complaint,the Avalahally police charged Prasad under IPC Section 289 ( Negligent conduct with respect to animal) and IPC Section 428 (mischief by killing,poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animals or animal ).
The police have summoned Prasad to appear before the investigating officer for questioning.
Blood reports and vet investigations at the hospital revealed that Sweety has gone through immense trauma and is very stressed.
She needs to be treated in a safe and calm environment.She is friendly with everyone.
However,when someone tries to bring their hand towards her to pet,for few seconds,she gets super anxious and we can see fear in her eyes.
She reacts thinking the person might hit her”, Tarun,said,based on the feedback he got from those fostering her.
She came with a choker metal chain with no collar,she is just 6 kgs and did not need a choker chain at all.She was kept in wooden box,he added .
She would now be sent to get herself rehabilitated,she would undergo behavioural training for 3 weeks.
Not sure how much impact the Trauma has caused her & she needs emotional recovery.The owner was reportedly beating and choking her to discipline her just because she sniffed the garbage bag is what the owner claimed.
I received a frantic call on the 05th of aug 2022 from a reporter(person who reported the incident) about a pet dog being severely abused by the owner.
As a video of the inhumane behaviour was already being circulated & as the matter was being attended to,I had not intervened till this call & an email prompted me to immediately rush in to take action.
At the Avlahalli police station,the officer in charge was surprised that I was there to file a complaint as he was under the impression that the matter was resolved”.
Much awareness & sensitization of the police force & the public is the urgent need of the hour”, said Mr.Tarun Agarwal.
Being an Anti-Cruelty Officer,Mr.Tarun,added that the department concerned i.e The BBMP AHead, turns a blind eye &a deaf ear repeatedly to all such cases & the burden of entirely handling all such cases falls on a couple of welfare officers who have to work against all odds to find a safe haven for the tortured animals.
If only the local authorities empowered all volunteers with a coordinated approach,cruelty cases would be on the decline & animals would be safe.
