Thursday, August 26, 2021
Additional Chief Secretary - UDD
Govt of Karnataka
Room 436 Vikasa Soudha , Bangalore 560001
Dear Sir:
Subject: Implementation of Animal Birth Control and ARV at all CMCs and Gram Panchayats
We write to you as the in your capacity as Chair of the ABC State Monitoring Committee. The situation of street dogs in areas outside the major cities is very worrying apart from the issue of animal cruelty and health impact on the local area. We often hear updates on panchayats ruthlessly culling dogs and helpless puppies in the most horrendous way or simply relocating them elsewhere. This leads to unnecessary confrontation, hardening of stances and reliance on force or the courts. If simple rules are followed this problem could well be minimal in the next 3-5 years. There are three critical issues that are of deep concern to citizens and especially those in animal welfare:
1. Breaking of rules on culling or relocating of stray dogs -either because of lack of knowledge of the ABC Rules 2001 and the Supreme Court Judgment on this issue, or because of indifference & expediency.
2. The resulting problem of dogs permeating into different areas and causing issues there if not vaccinated or neutered. The resulting rise in puppies, accidents and possibly rabies is of concern.
3. The constant iteration that there are no funds for this exercise, and it being done in a haphazard, often cruel manner without following due process of tenders, selection and using AWBI accredited Animal welfare organizations.
We understand that the dog population problem is real and needs to be handled, but the legality, empathy and manner handled is very important as well. Therefore:
1. Please issue a circular to all related departments, RDPR, AHVS to follow the above and implement
2. Work with AWBI/KAWB and AHVS (and NGOs) to create systems to replicate the ABC/ARV Program across state.
The onus of implantation lies also clearly on the CMC or when applicable, the Gram Panchayat. In larger cities like Bangalore or district headquarters, ABC/ARV tend to be more organized, with good agencies, quality hospital & surgical care, transport, clear operation rate per animal. We need this to be done across the state in all districts and villages. - orders must be given, tenders issued and compassionate and safe ABC/ARV to launch. The State ABC Monitoring Committee MUST oversee this with citizen involvement, and the KAWB via its 31 District SPCA under their DD (Member Secy, SPCA) s is also required to enable this process and have some overview, support and veterinary assistance. The KAWB must ensure that the DM/DCs across all district are informed about the laws (ABC Law 2001 extract below) , clear about banning any culling/relocation and in fact strongly initiate and implement ABC/ARC in their districts and via their CMCs and Panchayats. In tough areas, AHVS can themselves help in ABC/ARV provided medicines and kennels available., as they anyway have their vets and local clinics in place. It is only when the structures work in tandem together (also with local NGOs and animal lovers) collaboratively, compassionately, and effectively, can any long-term change happen.
In 2018, after a particularly gruesome culling case, a strong circular from the RDPR Department went out to the gram panchayat that culling would not be tolerated (and to implement effective ABC/ARV only) or face penal action. Despite this we see neither systems to monitor this nor ABC programs at all panchayat levels. We trust that you will ensure that the above systems are put in place and the mandated and much needed neuter/vaccinate program to address street dog population is immediately activated and implemented.
Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,
Priya Chetty-Rajagopal
Trustee
CC: Commissioner- AHVS , Karnataka – for kind action
CC Secretary to GoK – AHVS, Karnataka
CC: Secretary, Rural Devpt & Panchayat Raj – for kind action
CC: Secretary, AWBI, Delhi
CC: Chairman, KAWB/Member Secretary – KAWB
CC: Special Commissioner – AH, BBMP – for action
Extract from ABC Dog Rules 2001
Procedure for sterilization under ABC Rules
Under Rule 3 (3) - The street dogs shall be sterilized and immunized by participation of animal welfare organizations, private individuals and the local authority.
Under Rule 4 - A monitoring committee shall be formed consisting of the following persons by the local authority namely :
(a) Commissioner/Chief of the local authority, who shall be the ex-officio Chairman of the Committee.
(b) A representative of the Public Health Department of the local authority.
(c) A representative of the Animal Welfare Department if any of the local authority.
(d) A veterinary doctor
(e) A representative of the district Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA)
(f) At least two representatives from the Animal Welfare Organizations operating within the said local authority.
(g) A Representative of the people who is a humanitarian or a well-known individual who has experience in animal welfare in the locality.
This committee constituted shall be responsible for planning and management of dog control programme in accordance with ABC rules.
Rule 6 - Obligations of the local authority :
(1) The local authority shall provide for
(a) establishment of a sufficient number of dogs pounds including animal kennels/shelters which may be managed by animal welfare organizations;
(b) requisite number of dog vans with ramps for the capture and transportation of street dogs;
(c) one driver and two trained dog catchers to be provided for each dog van;
(d) an ambulance cum clinical van to be provided as mobile center for sterilisation and immunization;
(e) incinerators to be installed by the local authority for disposal of carcasses.
(f) periodic repair of shelter or pound.
(2) If the Municipal Corporation or the local authority thinks it expedient to control street dog population, it shall be incumbent upon them to sterilize and immunize street Dogs with the participation of animal welfare organizations, private individuals and the local authority.
(3) The animal welfare organizations shall be reimbursed the expenses of sterilization/ immunization at a rate to be fixed by the Committee on fortnightly basis based on the number of sterilization/immunization done.
For this purpose the Municipal Corporations float ABC tender for animal welfare organisations, private individuals
(4) The Monitoring committee of the said locality shall meet at least once in every month to assess the progress made in regard to implementation of the Animal Birth Control programme. (This subclause was added in 2011)
