#Shimoga #DogCulling Cannot Happen Again

The Issue

#BuriedAlive. Over 150 dogs poisoned and buried to save time and money, many still alive, by an ABC Agency hired by Kambadaalalu-Hosur Gram Panchayat in Shimogga . We reel in horror. However much we want to, let's not just focus about why it happened, who was responsible and when we will punish them. Let us mainly get going on how we can PREVENT this and getting the government stakeholders involved to CONNECT to ensure a framework in which animals are handled in a legal, unified and structured way.

Who are these government agencies? The Shivamogga District Commissioner, the Karnataka Animal Welfare Board (KAWB) headed by Chairman Hon Prabhu Chawla , and by its Member Secretary, Dr Palegar , the Shivamogga District SPCA, The Rural Development & Panchayat Raj (RDPR), the UDD, and most importantly also, the Karnataka State Police. Please set up a short term Joint Action Task Force with these critical agencies to prevent these ignoble crimes and avoid bureaucratic delays. Our compassionate Karnataka cannot be shamed like this .

The specific role of KAWB across Karnataka must be highlighted , to avoid such a painful incidents this has happened in Shimoga. It has brought a lot of shock and pain to animal lovers and a black mark on our beloved and compassionate state.

I am sure that there is a upcoming KAWB meeting and that along with the KAWB committee and the Chairman Honorable Minister Mr. Chauhan, we will be able to address and prevent all such incidents in the future, while also tightening and creating stronger processes through KAWB across Karnataka. We had also given a lot of letters sent to you on this and an online petition also raised change.org/EffectiveKAWB.

Thankfully, after many reach outs from our side last year, the KAWB has already set up the 31 district SPCAs with the member secretaries being the district deputy directors and chairman being the DC or DM. To avoid Shimoga incidents, the SPCAs must have meetings and be more active . However the training and sensitization across Karnataka by KAWB and Member Secretaries has not been done, thereby creating incidents like this and also opening up to many other such incidents in the future. This is highly avoidable .

What is critical is that formal letters must be written via the DGP Karnataka police to all the district level police stations. The ABC Rules and Stray Dog Management Laws must be sent to all districts formally informing about the laws and the process of addressing stray dog issue only by vaccination and neuter . This training and sensitization Is critical to avoid recurrence of criminal activity by the inadvertent or ignorant orders passed. We must also ask the RDPR (Rural Development and Panchayat Raj ) to reissue their May 2018 circular instructing all gram panchayats to stop culling of dogs or face penal action.

The KAWB via SPCA, RDPR and civic authorities must ensure that ABC and ARV are compassionately and effectively implemented on all districts and panchayat, and coordinate in ensuring sufficient shelters as well. This is under KAWB charter. I have sent in several letters for all the above issues in the last year. I have also put together matters that are critical to be discussed in the agenda. I have also offered to share the training and inputs from other states so we learn by best practices . The other stress is to ensure that the KAWB ex officio members attend and participate specifically ADGP level police officer as stipulated , involvement from forest, transportation etc. as well as involvement of public in areas of concern. They must attend these meetings if the KAWB is to work.

There is also as per a Supreme Court case, a critical need for a DD or JD level person to be assigned to the KAWB to ensure the administrative implementation aspect of the KAWB. Given the vast scope, systems to be set in place and monitoring, this is urgently needed. As Director AHVS with many critical duties and work, this cannot fall only on one person if KAWB is to be effective. This was confirmed by previous DD Dr. Shivaram and we are hopeful that the person is in place so that they can focus on the rules responsibilities of the KAWB as well as initiate funding request as an when required. We do understand The tremendous pressure on the member secretary of the KAWB, but as members of active citizenry, animal welfare etc. we are more than happy to help. We have raised an online petition for HAWOs (Hon Animal Welfare Officers) and an HAWLO (Hon Animal Welfare Legal Officer) is critical to KAWB functioning and we have reminded KAWB several times to get this done to get more effective and save precious time and resources

These are some of the critical issues to move forward to ensure that our state is always known as both compassionate and effective when it comes to animals. And a shameful incident as Shvamogga's never happens again.

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