The trial and tribulations of CUPA's ABC programme Stepping in to stop the cruelty… When CUPA was founded by Crystal Rogers in 1991, the large numbers of dogs on Bangalore's streets were a major welfare concern – the dogs were uncared for, injured in accidents, had large litters of puppies (many of which died), suffered from diseases, and worst of all, were collected by the Municipal dog catchers in cruel ways before being slaughtered by electrocution-an inhumane, primitive method of killing, initiated by the British in the early 1900s. CUPA has been in the field of street dogs’ welfare for almost 20 years and has worked tirelessly to change this cruel scenario. This story attempts to throw light on the work CUPA has done over the years in controlling Bangalore’s street dog population and rabies, in as effective and humane manner as possible. CUPA’s role in the Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Programmes of street dogs (ABC / ARV Programme) Prior to 1994, the only method of controlling street dog population was removal and slaughter of street dogs by electrocution and other crude methods which included hitting on the head. In 1994, the ABC / ARV Programmes were introduced in Bangalore on a small scale. CUPA was requested by Smt. Menaka Gandhi and the erstwhile Bangalore City Corporation (BCC) to assist the BCC in the humane control of street dogs. Being a very young NGO with limited funds and resources, it was an enormous challenge but the CUPA Trustees and members immediately agreed as this was the only way to save the street dogs from a painful death.
The Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) offered space at the Cantonment Veterinary Hospital for conducting this programme. BCC provided one dog –catching van and in February 1994, CUPA started the sterilization operations from the Queens Road Veterinary Hospital. It was a huge challenge to take on the responsibility of conducting the sterilisation and vaccination programme which was new to the city however; CUPA members were ready to overcome all hurdles. The team comprising of the very enthusiastic Trustees , members and volunteers supervised the entire activity right from accompanying the van for the catching of dogs, to the pre and post operative care , housing, feeding, cleaning and finally the release of the sterilized and vaccinated dogs into the areas from where they were picked up. The areas initially covered were the Shivajinagar and Cantonment zones. In the first year 1994-95, 464 operations were conducted which was a huge achievement for CUPA, the only organisation doing the programme for the city of Bangalore. The year 1995-96 saw an increase of the ABC numbers to 1591 and ARV numbers to 1527. This huge feat was accomplished by operating out of four centres – Veterinary College at Hebbal, the Cantonment Veterinary Hospital, the erstwhile Dog Pound in Koramangala and the CUPA Shelter at Whitefield. CUPA’s entry into the Dog Pound run by the Bangalore City Corporation The Corporation Dog Pound at the Lakshman Rao Nagar Slum, Bangalore, was the centre where thousands of street dogs caught from various parts of the city were brought and kept for three days. This enabled the owners or guardians, if any, to claim them. In case of claims, the animals were returned but the majority were unclaimed dogs which were killed. The Dog Pound was in a dismal state with many complaints and concerns from the public and animal lovers pertaining to the housing and welfare of the street dogs incarcerated on the premises.
With the objective of improving the welfare conditions of the street dogs in the Dog Pound, CUPA requested the BCC for permission to manage the Dog Pound. On July 21, 1995, possession of the Dog Pound was officially handed over to CUPA by virtue of a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the BCC and CUPA. CUPA stepped in with much trepidation, virtually into a god forsaken slaughter house, where one had to undergo the torture of witnessing the daily executions. CUPA had been let in, as per the dictates of the BCC, only to ensure housing, feeding and maintaining the hygiene of the centre. Any other activity would have meant immediate dismissal from the scene. The city administration had no other thoughts on dog control-they had been given only one instrument of destruction and were unwilling to discuss any other method. There was no government funding for mass sterilisation of street dogs and the municipal and local laws were in favour of killing stray and ownerless dogs. Under these circumstances, CUPA was helpless and had no say in the killing of street dogs. Even legal intervention would have been fruitless, since the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, permitted stray dogs to be exterminated. During this painful period in CUPA’s history, the members ensured that the dogs brought in were housed, fed and taken care of while the BCC continued to electrocute the unclaimed dogs. The only comfort that could be offered was kindness before they were killed! It was a great price to pay and a lesson that has never been forgotten…….that in spite of virulent criticism about the presence of a welfare organisation in the middle of the killing fields, all members firmly believed that it was imperative to stand firm, as in this case, we were the only helpline for the doomed animals!
CUPA’s Animal Birth Control Unit in the Corporation Dog Pound Under the circumstances prevailing at that time and as stated above, it was very clear that the only way to stop the widespread and inhuman killing of stray dogs by the BCC was by expanding the birth control and vaccination programme of street dogs. A dog sterilised and vaccinated meant a life saved. This meant increasing the numbers of sterilisations and vaccinations. At this juncture, CUPA Trustees and members approached the BCC and requested for the construction of an Operation Theatre and Post Operative Care Unit in the Dog Pound. BCC was kind enough to sanction 10 lakhs to commission a post-operative unit. In the year 1997, the BCC, built an Operation theatre and Post Operative Care Unit comprising of 60 inpatient housing kennels which enabled CUPA to dramatically increase the number of monthly sterilisations. The 1st Office Memorandum by the BCC was issued on 23rd Sept. 2000 wherein procedures for ABC were detailed along with a proposed budget of Rs.2,52,400 for the sterilization and vaccination of 4320 females and 2880 male dogs. CUPA’s campaign for the street dogs of Bangalore The initiation of the ABC & ARV Programme though saved many dogs from death, was most distressing to watch as the large numbers of remaining dogs were killed by the BCC. CUPA and the NGO’s were helpless in a situation where the laws themselves prescribed for the killing of street dogs and there was no funding from the BCC for any other activity.
As mentioned earlier, the only solution to prevent the killing of street dogs was to conduct as many sterilisations and vaccinations as possible. While CUPA expanded its sterilisation programme over the years, there were not enough resources to cover the whole of Bangalore. The costs involved in sterilising and vaccinating the thousands of street dogs brought to the Dog Pound every month was beyond CUPA’s means. The major hurdle for a mass sterilisation and vaccination programme was absolutely NO government funding from BCC or any other institutional body to conduct sterilisations and vaccinations of street dogs; NO laws for ABC / ARV Programme ; and NO space and infrastructure. Increasing the numbers of sterilisations required space, infrastructure, funds and manpower. However, the CUPA Trustees and members did not lose hope and continued their struggle for street dogs. In this scenario, the following possibilities were examined: 1. Humane, practical and cost effective method of birth control for the street dog population - CUPA consulted the Bangalore Veterinary College on the chemical methods of contraception. Unfortunately, it did not work as the available drugs were found to be too painful with unacceptable side effects. 2. Instituting court proceedings for the amendment of existing laws – CUPA consulted lawyers to institute court proceedings and CUPA member, Savitha Nagabhushan took the horrific pictures of electrocution, in order to support the petition on the cruelties involved in the electrocution of dogs.
The photographs and videos taken then, till today, speak volumes about the methods employed to kill. These photographs were blown up, made into posters and circulated in schools and colleges to make people aware of the inhuman methods of stray dog population control. Albums of these were also presented to the authorities in the BCC offices. During this time, these pictures were also shown to Smt. Menaka Gandhi, who came to Bangalore and met the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) Commissioner and other officials. She convinced the BMP to stop the outdated and ineffective electrocution of street dogs which had totally failed to check either the street dog population or the spread of rabies. The BMP then took a decision in 1999 to abolish the practice of indiscriminate killing of street dogs and to substitute it with the WHO recommended ABC / ARV Programme on a large scale. In May 1999, electrocution of street dogs was stopped and in the year 2000, BMP initiated ABC /ARV Programme for the entire Bangalore City by taking the assistance of NGO’s like the SPCA, CUPA and ARF. Opposition to abolition of electrocution and introduction of ABC / ARV Programme by the City Corporation ‌ ABC (Dogs) Rules, 2001 coming into force While the decision to stop the indiscriminate killing of street dogs was hailed by CUPA members, for dog lovers and many right thinking people, the battle was not over. Petitions against street dogs were filed in the Karnataka High Court by one Ms. Subhashini Reddy and by Stray Dog Free Bangalore (SDFB) in 2001.
CUPA impeded as Respondent No. 2 in the petition filed by Ms. Subhashini Reddy. While the petitions were pending, the ABC (Dogs) Rules, 2001 were framed and came into force in the year 2001 thanks to the untiring, heroic and consistent efforts of Smt. Menaka Gandhi. As per the Rules, all street dogs needed to be sterilised and vaccinated against rabies and released back into the same areas and only incurably sick and mortally injured street dogs could be euthanized. Rabid dogs would be isolated for observation and not released. Rule 13 of the Rules overrides the old outdated Municipal and Police laws which permits the indiscriminate killing of street dogs. The petitions came up for final hearing on 07th August 2002 and the High Court observed that the BMP had taken all precautionary measures and was constantly monitoring the programme and accordingly disposed off the petitions. CUPA’s role in the ABC / ARV Programme conducted by the BMP ‌.. In October 2000, for the first time in the history of Bangalore, the ABC / ARV Programme was being conducted and funded by the BMP. With the assistance of three NGOs, namely SPCA, CUPA & ARF, the BMP introduced the ABC / ARV Programme to the entire Bangalore City, then covering 100 wards encompassing 225 sq kms. CUPA was allocated Bangalore East (Package Nos. 8,9,10) areas by virtue of an MOU dated 7th June, 2004, executed by BMP in favour of CUPA and the target numbers of sterilisations was 10920, (males-5475 and females-5445). The money allocated was Rs. 8, 99,540 lakhs.
As of June 2012, CUPA operates Packages 8, 9,10a (complaints) with a target to operate 600 dogs per month for ABC and 1200 dogs for ARV per month. Package 8 comprises of Ward nos. 23,24,27,28,29,30,48,49,59,60,61,78 Package 9 comprises of Ward nos. 50, 57,58,62,63,79,80,88,113 Package 10a comprises of Ward nos. 89-93, 110, 111-12, 114-117 Funding for the ABC/ARV Programme conducted by CUPA Unlike today, when the sterilisation and vaccination of street dogs is supported by the ABC (Dogs) Rules and is accepted as standard practice, there was no public awareness and no funds allocated by the government for the sterilisation programme in 1994. CUPA, at that time was a very young organisation, barely three years old with no funds. However, it undertook the huge responsibility of conducting sterilisations and vaccination for about 10 dogs per week initially with the help of the Animal Husbandry Department which provided the space at Queens’ Road Veterinary Government hospital. At the beginning, CUPA’s patron, Mrs. H.E.Flynn, donated some money which helped to start the programme. However, the funds were not sufficient to continue and CUPA Trustees and Members literally ran from pillar to post and raised the much required funds through fund raisers and donations from animal lovers. Gradually the numbers of sterilisation increased. Subsequently, CUPA received a small grant from AHD for Anti-rabies Vaccines and a yearly grant from the AWBI. While the grant was helpful, in view of the large numbers of sterilisations and vaccinations conducted, it was still not sufficient to cover the expenses for the programmes which involved salaries, medicines, feed for the dogs, transport, cleaning and maintenance costs. This was borne by CUPA through constant fundraising by Trustees and members.
In the year 2000, the programme became fully funded by the BBMP and CUPA was one of the NGO’s to be entrusted with one of the packages for the programme. After six years of raising and utilising its own funds for the ABC / ARV Programme, the BBMP funding in the year 2000 came as a big relief for CUPA. COURT BATTLES FOR THE STREET DOGS Petitions before the Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka A spate of petitions was filed against the street dogs of Bangalore. 2001 - Immediately after the mass electrocution of street dogs was banned in 1999 and substituted by the ABC/ARV Programme in 2000, Ms. Subhashini Reddy filed a writ petition against the Commissioner, BMP before the Hon’ble High Court, Karnataka for relief against the street dog “ menace ”. CUPA impleaded in the case as Respondent No. 2. 2001 - Soon after, another PIL was filed by the Stray Dog Free Bangalore (SDFB) for implementation of the provisions of the Karnataka Municipal Corporation Act and Karnataka Police Act which provide for destruction of stray and ownerless dogs.
CUPA, represented by Advocates Sri E.Massilamani and Smt. Brindha Nandakumar filed its objections in support of the sterilisation and vaccination programme on the grounds that the same were in accordance with the recommendations made by the WHO; the programme which addressed the street dog population in a scientific, humane and practical manner and takes into consideration the condition prevailing in most developing countries of warm climate, abundance of garbage/food, shelter, poor garbage management, cultural reluctance to kill and the failure of the ‘remove and kill’ street dog programme that was implemented by the city corporation for nearly a century. The cases were fought fiercely and at a time when the old municipal laws still permitted killing of stray dogs and there were no ABC (Dogs) Rules. It was indeed a very tough fight. During the course of the proceedings, ABC (Dogs) Rules, 2001 came into force. The BMP filed its statement on the action taken by BMP for the city of Bangalore. The petitions came up for final hearing on 07th August 2002 and the High Court observed that the BMP had taken all the precautionary measures and were constantly monitoring the programme and accordingly disposed off the petitions. LOKAYUKTA CASES 1. 2002 – A complaint was filed by Sri Dhananjay, Stray Dog Free Bangalore (SDFB), before the Karnataka Lokayukta with regard to the elimination of the stray dog menace in Bangalore. 2. 06th March 2003 - Report of the Lokayukta - terming the Animal Birth Control (dogs) Rules, 2001 as ultravires to its parent act- The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 and directing the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike to ensure the summary destruction of all stray dogs and ownerless dogs in the city under Section 58 (12) of the Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, 1976.
3. 05 June 2003 - CUPA files Writ Petitions for (i) quashing of the Lokayukta’s report and (ii) expunging derogatory remarks made in the Report against Animal lovers and NGOs. 4. 2003 - SDFB files Writ petition for implementation of the Lokayukta’s report. 5. 14th December 2006 - Combined order passed by the High Court in both the above petitions directing the BBMP to implement the ABC programme according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization and based on ABC (Dog) Rules. Remarks made against NGOs and Animal lovers were expunged. 6. 08th March 2007 - Writ Appeal 501/2007 filed by the Karnataka Lokayukta vs. CUPA & Others, for setting aside the Order and also declaring the ABC Rules as ultravires to the PCA Act. 7. 14th June 2012 - The matter was listed for final hearing and after hearing all the sides, including CUPA’s contention in an Appeal that the a. Lokayukta has no jurisdiction to term any Rule as ultravires and b. cannot seek the relief of declaring the ABC Rules as ultravires to the PCA Act in an Appeal c. Subject matter of stray dogs and ABC Rules is pending before the Supreme Court - The Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka then adjourned the matter to the 3rd week of August 2012. COURT BATTLES ARISING FROM THE 2007 CRISIS Petitions against stray dogs The killing of two children in early 2007, allegedly by street dogs, made headlines and was flashed in all the dailies and TV Channels leading to a series of petitions being filed before the Hon’ble High Court, Karnataka.
Sri Krishna Bhatt’s petition prayed for striking off Rule 7 of ABC (Dogs) Rules, which is the provision to sterilise and release street dogs in the same area. Karnataka State Legal Services Authority filed a petition with a hope to curb the street dog menace. CUPA impleaded in both the above petitions. Meanwhile the Hon’ble Lokayukta also appealed to the Division Bench of the High Court, against the favourable order of the Judge, High Court. The latter judgement was in favour of the ABC programme. In the above cases, CUPA is represented by Sri Raghavan of M/S Dua Associates and Ms. Brindha Nandakumar. The petitions are in the stage of final hearing. 2012 – A petition was filed by Master Jishnu, a young boy allegedly bitten by a dog and seeking compensation and relief against the stray dog menace. CUPA, along with the other NGOs have impleaded in the above case. The Hon’ble High Court of Karnataka adjourned the matter to the 3rd week of August 2012. Petitions for the protection and against cruelty of stray dogs The hostility and cruelty to innocent and hapless stray dogs led to the filing of petitions by Animal NGOs & Dog lovers for protecting the dogs. These were filed by (i) Anand Chaya (ii) George Mathew & others (iii) Tejaswini & others
CUPA and the 2007 crisis In early 2007, two young children Sridevi and Manjunath were allegedly killed by a pack of dogs. The very tragic and unfortunate deaths of the two children was widely publicised creating mass hysteria and hatred not only against street dogs but also against the ABC / ARV Programme as well as the NGO’s conducting the programme. This was extremely unfair considering the fact that Chandra Layout, the area where 8 year old Sridevi died, was on the border of the then Bangalore Municipality. While the ABC / ARV Programme were in force in Chandra Layout, there was NO ABC / ARV Programme in the adjoining municipalities which was responsible for the proliferation of street dogs in the area. In respect to the incident pertaining to the death of 4 year old Manjunath in B.E.M.L. Layout in the same year, again there was NO sterilization and vaccination programme of street dogs. In addition, the one common factor in both these areas was the presence of numerous open slaughter houses and meat stalls and non-implementation of garbage control both contributing in a major way to the high, feral dog population in these as well as other areas. The actual facts and the ground realities responsible for the presence of street dogs in large numbers were not reported leading to many misconceptions and unfair accusations. As a result, the press, politicians and the public blamed the NGO’s conducting the ABC / ARV Programme for the deaths of the children.
Accusations of all kinds were hurled at the NGO’s and even threats of suing them for criminal negligence and culpable homicide were made. CUPA received e- mails threatening the lives of the trustees, members and employees of the organisation. CUPA’s ABC Centre at Koramangala, Bangalore, found itself in the centre of a storm – were controversy raked up about the efficacy of the Animal Birth Control Programme and the killing of the children was being attributed to the corruption of the BBMP and NGO’s charged with siphoning of public funds for the programme. Due to public hysteria and emergency management control clamped on by the BBMP, the Centre was forced to take in dogs much beyond its holding capacity. It took courage, conviction and sheer will power not to relinquish the animals into the hands of the establishment and to simply walk out. In spite of tremendous public ill-will, criticism and hatred towards NGO’s and the hapless, innocent dogs, CUPA bravely held out. Trustees and members of CUPA along with other AWOS / NGOS met with the press, public and the authorities, appealing to one and all not to resort to violence against innocent and harmless street dogs. A Press Meet was organised by CUPA in which the ABC Programme upholding the ABC (Dogs) Rules, 2001 was stressed. CUPA provided the platform for the city’s other AWOs viz. Karuna Animal Welfare Association (the newly named Bangalore SPCA), Animal Rights Fund and Krupa Loving Animals to air their views. After nearly one and a half months of trauma and tension in the city over stray dogs, CUPA gradually started releasing the friendly, healthy sterilized dogs back into the community. Despite numerous obstacles, it stuck to its commitment to the welfare of street dogs and continued to be a part of the programme.
As of 2012, the Animal Birth Control Centre which is managed by CUPA continues to be the hub of activities for the ABC programme. BBMP continues to provide the funding for the city programme along with two dog catching vans each of which has three dog catchers and a supervisor. CUPA takes care of 33 wards allotted by the BBMP, which are attended to according to the schedule given by the BBMP. Sterilizations per month now total 800 and revaccinations with anti-rabies vaccine total 1600 per month. The complaints of stray dogs disturbing the members of the public are efficiently handled on a priority basis with CUPA receiving about 150 such complaints every month. Information about the ABC Programme is given out to the public from time to time to keep them well informed. CUPA’S staff at the ABC Centre are regularly updated with refresher courses on good animal Handling techniques and animal care and every effort has been made to ensure the welfare of the staff workers with a meala-day, uniforms, soaps, Medical Insurance and Provident Fund cover amongst other benefits.
Number of dogs sterilised and vaccinated by CUPA: 1994-2011 Year
No. of Male
No. of Female
Total No. of
No. of Dogs
Dogs
Dogs
Vaccinated
1994-95(from
Sterilized 490
Sterilized 265
Sterilized 671
277
Feb. 94) 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1998-99 1999-2000 2000-2001 2001-2002 2002-2003
816 864 1,042 1,005 1,194 2,406 2809 3449
790 1,232 1,324 1,285 1,436 2,801 3673 4156
1,606 2,096 2,366 2,290 2,630 5,207 6482 7605
1,616 2,057 2,172 2,823 3,476 6,000 7769 7237
April to March Dogs
2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11
5123 5475 5048 4842 5068 3811 3235 5079
5483 5445 5777 4944 4697 3635 3461 5394
10506 10920 10825 9786 9765 7446 6696 10473
With
Without
ABC
ABC
10586 10492 10739 9833 9758 7446 6696 10473
9552 11415 11155 10636 9258 9089 12623 18947
CUPA has also from time to time extended its services for street dogs and worked on cruelty cases related to stray dogs outside the area of its ABC programme.
In 2007, Anekal town started the indiscriminate killing of stray dogs. CUPA members rushed there, filed complaints, met officials and immediately initiating an emergency ABC/ARV drive to reassure local sentiments that these dogs would be an advantage for the town to foster since they would prevent unvaccinated or feral animals from entering the urban areas. The Hindu disclosed on March 27 that Savitha Nagbhushan and a Bangalore friend, L. Srinivasan, "have recorded footage of street dogs being rounded up in Anekal, killed allegedly with cyanide, and dumped along with garbage." Anekal residents said the killing began on March 23. Nagbhushan and Srinivasan were told that the dogcatchers were the "experts from Kerala." The Bangalore crisis "has been a terrifying example of how ill-informed media and corrupt, inept public officials can come together to start a slaughter of the innocents," summarized Chinny Krishna. "Let us hope this never happens again." –Merritt Clifton
The indiscriminate culling of dogs in Hoskote was brought to CUPA’s notice on 28th Dec. 2008. The CUPA team went there and uncovered several stray dogs that had been killed and hurriedly buried in a shallow grave. The matter was taken up with the local authorities, highlighting the illegal aspect of culling of stray dogs in violation of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001. Challenges to the ABC /ARV programme The challenges that need to be met by CUPA in this particular programme are tremendous. Conducting the programme on the ground is an uphill task and everyday brings unexpected turns, including tremendous delays in timely payments by the BBMP which affects all the other centres of CUPA. In effort to merely sustain the momentum of the activity without any breaks, funds need to be put together for continued progress.
Public response to the programme Some people love and value their stray dogs, opposing and even physically assaulting the dog squad for taking them, even with assurances that the dogs caught will be returned after sterilisation and vaccination. On the other hand, there are the dog-haters who dislike stray dogs and oppose the release of sterilised and vaccinated street dogs back in their respective areas demanding their permanent removal. In addition to these contrasting circumstances, CUPA also has to work under stressful conditions facing heavy Bangalore traffic, trying to catch difficult dogs in all kinds of trying conditions.
Increase in human population and garbage The estimated population of BBMP's 198 wards as per the 2011 census is 84.74 lakhs (8.474 million), up from 45.92 lakh (4.592 million) in 2001and now covering 975 sq. kms. This needs to be contrasted with Bangalore City in 2001, when it comprised of only 100 wards, encompassing 225 sq. kms. ! The population density in Bangalore has risen 47% in the past decade as job opportunities and economic growth have attracted people to Bangalore. The number of people living per square kilometre in the city has increased to 4,378 in 2011 from 2,985 in 2001, according to the census data released by Karnataka's Directorate of Census Operations. The tremendous increase in Bangalore's population with the corresponding increase in garbage has not resulted in increased efforts by the BBMP to cover these areas with the ABC Programme –with the dog bites and rabies cases coming from such areas, and the only effective way to stop these problems is with a sustained programme and proper waste management by the BBMP.
Studies have shown that excessive and unattended garbage on the streets of Bangalore adversely affects the success of the ABC Programme of stray dogs. As long as there is food source viz. garbage, there is an increase in the number of street dogs in the specific area. Effective garbage clearance would thus lead to a decrease in the number of street dogs. A determined effort at garbage removal by the authorities, introduction of closed dustbins and educating the public both through persuasion and penalties on civic sense and public hygiene would make the Animal Birth Control Programme more successful. It must be pointed out that it is very difficult to collect accurate figures on dog bite cases from particular areas, as hospitals do not have to report these figures to the government. Also, apart from not being able to collect figures from the many private hospitals that has sprung up in Bangalore where no information is collected on the area where the bite occurred. Therefore an individual may have been bitten in an area not covered by the ABC Programme, but may seek treatment at a hospital somewhere else, thus increasing the figures for that area and making it difficult to judge the effectiveness of the ABC Programme on dog bites and rabies cases. This is especially true in Rabies cases, as the Isolation Hospital in Bangalore, serves as the nodal centre for not only Karnataka, but also for people in towns and villages of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, which are the bordering states. Negative publicity Though the media has carried out a few good articles about the ABC / ARV Programme, there has also been a lot of wrong, inaccurate and negative publicity which has given rise to many misconceptions and wrong notions about street dogs, sterilisation programme and the AWOs / NGO’s making our job that much more difficult.
Organised groups working against street dogs The last 12 years has witnessed the development of Anti- Street Dog groups like SDFB and others which are constantly campaigning against street dogs ‘menace’ and the ABC / ARV Programme. Unsubstantiated reports of the
‘failure’ of the
programme; dog bites and even deaths caused due to ‘dog bites’ are sprayed across the newspapers and TV channels. Every dog bite is given front page coverage and this has resulted in giving a very one-sided and wrong picture to the public creating hostility towards street dogs and the ABC / ARV Programme. Consequently NGO’s implementing the programme is faced with stiff opposition at every stage and is by no means an easy task. CUPA’s awareness programmes for the citizens CUPA has initiated dialogues and meeting with Residents’ Welfare Association (RWA) notably with the Indira Nagar Association, Richmond Town Association, Koramangala and others. Press conferences have been held to educate the media personnel on the ABC programme in the city, meeting individual editors of news channels, both press and TV. Individual associations of buildings, localities and multi-storied complexes have been approached, in an attempt to gain their sympathy for the street dogs and their active help to assist Bangalore’s ABC programme.
Date:09/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/09/stories/2007040920090500.htm Karnataka - Bangalore
Eight dogs neutered, 29 vaccinated Staff Reporter
The drive is a privately funded initiative It is to create awareness about dog bites Also, on the need for animal birth control programme SAFE: A CUPA member sterilising a stray dog at Cubbon Park in Bangalore on Sunday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy BANGALORE: Dog lovers, with assistance from Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), held a drive to neuter and vaccinate dogs in and around Cubbon Park on Sunday. Eight dogs were neutered and 29 were vaccinated in the drive, which began around 7 a.m. Deepak Kulkarni, an animal lover, said that the reason for the drive, a privately funded initiative, was to create awareness about dogs and the manner in which to interact with them. "We want to spread awareness about dog bites and the need for Animal Birth Control programme to control dog population," he said. Aparnaa Gulvady, an animal rights activist, also gave a few tips on how to behave with street dogs: Do not tease dogs when they are eating; if you find adog with its puppies, stay away as it feels threatened and can become aggressive; do not drive vehicles close to dogs while they are asleep. It frightens them and their only defence mechanism is to snarl at you. If they are harassed, they resort to chasing people and vehicles to protect themselves; often, insensitive dog owners, abandon their dogs on unfamiliar streets, this is another reason for dogs to chase vehicles as they only remember being abandoned; when a dog is around and unless it is a game you are playing with it, never run as it thinks you are egging it on to chase you; and if you think a street dog is feeling threatened, calmly cross the road instead of throwing stones at it. © Copyright 2000 - 2006 The Hindu
Please let us know if you want to be a part of the brigade that helps Bangalore’s street dogs. This included being the instrument of spreading awareness, helping the dogs to live independently, helping animal lovers to assist in sterilisation and vaccination of their area animals. CUPA’s story, we hope, helps to spread the message that even amidst grave injustice and cruelty, there is always a beacon of support, help and lifeline for the animals.