Stray dogs facing brutal attacks in city: Activists

NEW DELHI: In yet another case of animal torture, some youths in Nizamuddin Basti poured petrol on a street dog and set it ablaze on Sunday night. The dog was rescued by animal shelter Friendicoes SECA and given immediate care.
Animal care activists say such incidents have increased over the past four-five years, and are now reported almost every week.“What is even more disturbing is that the dogs are intentionally abused in specific parts of their body, such as their genitalia,” says Geeta Seshamani, founder of Friendicoes SECA (Society for the Eradication of Cruelty to Animals).
The dog attacked on Sunday, for instance, suffered heavy burns on its belly and testes. Dogs are deliberately harmed with poison, burning, slashing, acid and beating, says Mayank Tushamar, an engineering student who worked with Friendicoes for two years.
Just this week, a tenant living in Suncity, Gurgaon, contacted Seshamani to report how new tenants are poisoning the street dogs in the area. Seshamani advised them to file a complaint with the police. “These actions not only show a total lack of value of life but also a disregard for animals as living beings,” says Seshamani.
“Street dogs are seen as pests by everyone,” says Monica (41), who came to Friendicoes in Defence Colony with two of her sick street dogs for free care. “Everyone wants purebred dogs and the street dogs are seen as garbage. I love them and cannot help myself from taking care of them. My neighbours don’t like me because of it”.
In another incident, a man had abandoned his golden retriever, Goldi, two years ago after he found out that it was pregnant by a street dog. It had to deliver on the street. Seshamani said a man methodically slashed Goldi’s mammary glands, making it impossible for her to feed her litter. She was saved by Friendicoes, but still bears scars on its belly and back.