Police Lease of Empathy for Animals (PLEA)

Objective: Let's make our beloved Bangalore Police the most Animal Empathetic & Friendly Force in India ! With police support, the community and animals can truly flourish

Background :

* For laws to work, they must be enforced, and this is the need of the hour.
* Compassion to Animal Welfare is enshrined in our Constitution and mandated  Supreme Court,  but implementation has challenges on the ground, largely due to weak enforcement and/or public ignorance
* The animal issues that require police attention range from minor to major: loss or stealing of pets, enforcement of cruelty laws, seizure of animals, dog fighting and gaming, breeding laws and booking of illegal breeders , pet shop rules , slaughter house standards etc etc
* The punishment for killing an animal of Rs 50 is neither stringent enough nor reflective of the crime , and the heavily loaded police tend to prioritize this crime very low, if they pay any attention at all. Therefore many animal crimes and problems remain unreported,  leading to complacency, indifference  and repeated criminal behavior towards animals . This is a regrettable cycle we DON'T want to either continue or grow.

PLEA!  Here is a different approach to adding enforcement muscle to rescue and cruelty cases on the ground

Limitations of an Overloaded Police Force:
* Limited knowledge of the animal case law
* Animals come lowest on list of beings that need security and protection
* Limited staff on ground and police stations
* Discomfort and fear of dealing with animals
* Dependence on hearsay and lack of proof,  as animals are voiceless
* Awkwardness & discomfort in relating to the entire animal issue at all
* Knowledge that the perpetrator can get away with a small fine and/or jail time , so police  wonder if  the effort is worth it.
* Lack of structure and framework for supporting this - ie identification, where to keep the lost/seized pets , shortage of Honorary Animal Welfare Officers , insufficient shelters, no micro-chipping and tagging of dogs etc.
* Concern that too much pressure may come on to police as go-to  animal authorities instead of AWBI, BBMP & NGO Shelters . Lines need to be clearly drawn

Suggestion & Asks
* Bangalore be the first police force in the country to have a dedicated DCP in charge of Animal Welfare and Cruelty. 'Bangalore Police - Compassionate and Protective to All..' 
* This can be a case study, documented longitudinally by MOEF&CC as well as global TV channels to showcase how goal oriented, pragmatic citizen activism coupled with strong police partnership & empathy can result in a truly compassionate & PLEA city
* Nominate retired police officers and constables for the prestigious PLEA Duty , and also involve Home Guards who can enhance their impact. This will be a huge win-win , as overworked police force can be better leveraged, while experienced , well networked and compassionate seniors are happy to make a sustainable difference.
* Give right to make a citizen's arrest in extreme case where police not available.
* Make a visible example of a cruelty or law breaking case , with harsh punishment and or arrest , so people are on their toes and will not transgress or break the law.
* Organize one highly visible monthly check or raid in suspected puppy mills
* Put up a separate page on Bangalore Police website  on this and have all cases available online. It's heartening that the current Bangalore police web page already covers many of the animal laws under 'legal aid' http://www.bcp.gov.in/Legal_aid.aspx (Update; why is this link not working in the new police website ?)  Also why is the Karnataka Police Act have such outdated provisions for stray animals and destruction of suffering dogs (Chapter IV Points 43 & 44) ? This needs to be updated and brought in line with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Law    * Have regular training inputs from Animal Welfare Officers , AW specialist lawyers and case workers, or AWBI at the sub inspector and senior officers level, so that police understand their rights and responsibilities., and escalation charts.  Station Officers must learn to accept pet related complaints , as presents they only accept FCR or an acknowledgments
* Institute a 'Humane Officer of the Month' Award
* Bring in children into the weekend checks, so they are involved and educated . This should include children at special needs schools or slums as well
* Work closely with State NGO's Department of Animal Husbandry & BBMP, Ministry of Environment & Forests to create a robust framework.
* This effort DOES NOT have to be huge or spread out but can be well leveraged due to good training across force and sustainable partnerships with local communities and RWA's
* Enabling BBMP and pet lovers to ensure all pets are registered , tagged, identified , and if possible micro-chipped
* Have a rescued Indie Dog as a mascot for the Bangalore Police. 

Goals & Upsides
* A beloved police force who is truly all round and believes in the safety and security of all its citizens
* A more compassionate city
* A more informed citizenry & better empowered & armed animal lovers
* Moving towards the 'right thing to do'
* A young citizen and Next Gen who are able to see adults and police doing the right thing by its vulnerable and voiceless animals
* A safer city , with lower crime, as animal abusers identified and dealt with at a young age are less problematic than when they become criminals and murderers as adults. Animal abuse and criminal behavior is HIGHLY co-related.

* Reduction in unwanted dogs  ( whether lost , abandoned or lost ) , especially due to stringent enforcement & regulation of breeding rules.

* #NOMore50- the weak law for Animal Cruelty will definitely get more teeth if the police are better involved,  understand the weakness in enforcement  , given the embarrassingly low fine and laughable punishment.

 P L E A ..We can do this Together, Bangalore Police...so  let's try, P L E A  !

Quick links

• Animal Protection Laws for the guidance of Police , AWOs, HAWO's, NGO's https://awbi.org/awbi-pdf/APL.pdf
• http://www.strays.in/index.php/2014/03/police-directive-by-delhi-police-bureau-of-police-research-and-development-for-the-protection-of-street-and-pet-dogs-and-other-animals/
• https://jaagruti.org/2013/12/13/reporting-a-crime-all-about-lodging-an-f-i-r-with-the-police/
• http://envfor.nic.in/legis/awbi/awbi01.html
• http://envfor.nic.in/legis/awbi/awbi01.htm
• http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/centre-urged-to-enact-animal-wwelfare-bill/article8414140.ece
• http://www.bcp.gov.in/Legal_aid.aspxhttp://dpal.kar.nic.in/4%20of%201964%20(E).pdf (Karnataka Police Act) 

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The Karnataka Police Act 1963 has some worrying sections on animal destruction that goes against the central rules in forced . These must be changeD

43. Destruction of stray dogs.—(1) The Commissioner and the Superintendent in areas under their respective charges may, from time to time by public notice, and after consultation with the Health Officer of the area concerned or other prescribed officer of the Department of Public Health, proclaim that any stray dogs found during such period as may be specified in the said notice, wandering in the streets or in any public place may be destroyed, and any dog so found within such period may be destroyed accordingly.

(2) The authority empowered under sub-section (1) may, by public notice, require that every dog, while in any street or public place and not led by some person, shall be muzzled in such a manner as effectually to prevent it from biting, while not obstructing its breathing or drinking and the Police may, so long as such notice remains in force, destroy, or take possession of and detain, any dog found loose without muzzle in any street or place beyond the premises of the owner thereof:

Provided that any dog so found wearing a collar on which an apparently genuine name and address of an owner is inscribed, shall not, unless it is rabid, be forthwith destroyed, but information of the detention thereof shall forthwith be sent by post or otherwise to such owner.

(3) Any dog which has been detained under sub-section (2) for a period of three clear days without the owner providing a muzzle and paying all expenses connected with such detention, may be destroyed or sold with the sanction and under the orders of the competent authority.
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(4) The proceeds of the sale of any dog under sub-section (3) shall be applied, as far as may be, in discharge of the expenses incurred in connection with its detention, and the balance, if any, shall form part of the Consolidated Fund of the State.

(5) Any expenses incurred in connection with the destruction or detention of any dog under this section shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (4), be recoverable from the owner thereof upon a warrant issued by the competent authority as if it were a warrant issued under section 386 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898.

44. Destruction of suffering or unfit animals.—(1) Any Police Officer, who, in any street or public place other than a place of worship, finds any animal other than a bull or cow so diseased, or so severely injured, and in such a physical condition that in his opinion it cannot without cruelty be removed, shall if the owner is absent or refuses to consent to the destruction of the animal, at once summon the Veterinary Officer in charge of the area in which the animal is found, and, if the Veterinary Officer certifies that the animal is mortally injured or so severely injured, or so diseased, or in such a physical condition that it is cruel to keep it alive, the Police Officer, may without the consent of the owner, destroy the animal or cause it to be destroyed:

Provided that if in the opinion of the Veterinary Officer the animal can be removed from the place where it is found without causing it great suffering and if the owner or person in charge of the animal or in their absence any other person on the spot is willing and offers to remove the animal to a Veterinary Hospital or Pinjrapole within such time as the Veterinary Officer considers reasonable, the Veterinary Officer shall allow the animal to be removed by such owner, person in charge of the animal, or such other person; and if the owner or person in charge of the animal or such other person is unwilling or fails so to remove the animal, the Veterinary Officer may direct the Police Officer to remove the animal before it is destroyed from the place where it is found to such other place as he may think fit:

Provided further that when the animal is destroyed in any street or public place it shall, as far as possible, be screened from the public gaze while it is being destroyed:

Provided also that before destroying or causing to be destroyed any diseased animal in any place, the Health Officer of the area concerned or other prescribed officer of the Department of Public Health shall be consulted.

(2) The Government may appoint such persons as it thinks fit to be Veterinary Officers and may declare the areas of which they shall be in charge for the purposes of this Act.