Strays take over Andheri streets

An NGO involved with animal welfare feeding stray dogs has led to an increase in their numbers, thus perturbing residents of N Dutta Marg, while also violating BMC norms.

Caught in the act – the lady feeding strays that cause a nuisance to residents here

Says resident Sarabjit Jaggi of Rameshwar Darshan, “This sudden development of a lady from the nearby slums of Ganesh Nagar feeding stray dogs is making it increasingly dangerous for anyone to walk on this road.

She comes with two plastic bags full of chicken bones for the dogs. Walking on our road has become risk,y as dogs have started pouncing and following us, if they spot us carrying plastic or other bags of food items.”

Supports Shyamlee Duggal, “We stopped this woman the first time we spotted her, and asked her the reason why she was feeding the strays, which according to BMC rules is an offence.

She very readily gave us her identity card and said she was a volunteer for the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme of the NGO In Defence of Animals (IDA). We then informed her that her acts were against BMC norms, and she will be fined. She ignored us and continued to feed the dogs, and is doing it even now.”

Informs Jaggi, “When we asked IDA about this volunteer, they said she had been asked to do so and there is no harm. Even when we informed IDA that they were flouting BMC rules, as the volunteer was from ABC, they simply ignored our pleas. If NGOs like these will violate BMC rules, then why will a common man adhere to the regulations?”

States Fizzah Shah, Vice-Chairperson, IDA, “Even dogs have the right to live. All these dogs are sterilised, and then released in this area, as they were picked up from this area. This is as per the High Court and Supreme Court rulings.

Our volunteers are feeding them, because they need to survive. As for BMC law against feeding of stray dogs, this pertains to their cleanliness drive. Our volunteers are particular about keeping the place where they feed the strays clean, as we feed them at a particular place, and see to it that the dogs don't mess the place. There is nothing wrong in this. All these allegations are of extremists, who only want living beings like dogs to die.”

Comments a senior official from the Environment Department, K/ West Ward, “About the action against this lady, N Dutta Marg is a small place in Andheri facing this issue. We know of three cases between Swami Samarth Nagar Circle and Four Bungalows Junction, wherein a mother-daughter duo come in a red safari and feed stray dogs.

Another instance is of 120 feet, D P Road, where a few residents of the area feed almost 75 stray dogs. It looks more like a dog pound than a road with residential societies. Another instance is of Bandra, where a woman in a Maruti Esteem feeds rice to stray dogs. All that we can do is take these women to the nearest police station and fine them Rs 500. We have no other powers to assist residents to curb this increasing menace.”
kinjal.shah@timesgroup.com

Incident details
Volunteer Suman V Suttar for ABC programme of the NGO IDA (In Defence of Animals) (IDA), a resident of Ganesh Nagar, N Dutta Marg, Four Bungalows, Andheri West feeds stray dogs rice and chicken bones, and has been spotted in the act of offence between 7:30 p m and 9:00 p m.

What BMC Act states
Last year, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had decided to invoke a dormant clause in sanitation and cleanliness bylaws, which bans people from feeding animals and birds in public places. It also invokes a fine of Rs 500 to offenders, who break the aforementioned law. The same was passed after six stray dogs in Vile Parle East bit a nine-year-old girl, Sonavi Chitale, on August 7, 2008.