Bengaluru, 31 Aug

An upscale apartment complex in Bellandur in the City has allegedly locked up 15-odd stray dogs on their premises without giving them proper food and shelter.

Animal activists took note of the plight and on 11 August, they filed a complaint with Bellandur police, urging them to file a First Information Report (FIR) against the apartment complex for the inhuman treatment meted out to the dogs. They demanded a thorough investigation, but the FIR was not registered.

Sadhana Hegde, President of Sahavarthin (an Animal Welfare NGO), said, “Despite providing substantial evidence, police officials have been ignoring us for 20 days. They have directed us to various departments without registering a single FIR. Is this the approach we're taking to treat animals?"

According to the Stray Dog Management Rules (2001) and a BBMP bylaw, apartments can’t relocate stray animals (which have become community animals) from their premises. They can only vaccinate and sterilise and release them to the same area.

A few days earlier, Swarnima Nishanth, a dog rescuer, visited the apartment complex to rescue the dogs. “Fifteen dogs that were dwelling in their property even before the construction started, are now homeless & are not given shelter or food correctly.’’

What is happening to the 15 stray dogs?

The apartment complex came up in November 2022. “Initially, when the apartment was under construction, there was a designated place for dogs to take shelter and to feed them. Two to three times, I’ve visited the temporary shelter to feed the dogs, but the security guards never let me inside the property. Later when the apartment complex came up, the guards again did not let me inspect the shelter,” Nishanth said. “For the past week, I’ve been noticing that the stray dogs are left out in the complex and due to rain, they are getting drenched also,” she added.

What does the complaint say?

Hedge, who is also a member of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), said she and Nishanth called Deputy Commissioner of Police to take note of the situation and file the FIR. She said they waited for 2 days for the investigation to begin. But nothing happened, and they again went to Bellandur station. “Even though I went with a pen drive containing evidence, the inspector rejected the complaint asking why he should trust me,’’ he said. 

Running from pillar to post

Hedge said the authorities are unnecessarily making them run in circles, going from police to BBMP departments. “When my complaints were unheard, I approached Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister, Vaishnavi, who informed BBMP Joint Director to take action.” Weeks later, Vaishnavi then again pulled up departments and asked the Police Commissioner to act immediately. The case was transferred to Marathahalli ACP who is now asking for us to go back to BBMP to get a case filed.” She said BBMP does not have a dedicated department or cell to monitor animal cruelty cases in the city. —Salar News