Dog trainer died of haemorrhage & shock due to injuries: Autopsy

Mumbai: The death of a 22-year-old dog trainer, Hasrat Ali, following a fatal attack by a Great Dane on Monday, has been attributed to haemorrhage and shock due to multiple injuries, as per the post-mortem. Ali's parents, who reached Mumbai Wednesday to claim his body, have alleged negligence on the part of Marshal Dog Company, where Ali was employed.The incident has sparked talk about dog training practices, with animal activists and dog experts highlighting the potential dangers of harsh, punishment-based training methods.The incident occurred when the Great Dane, named Rocky, attacked Ali at the dog training facility. Ali succumbed to his injuries within two hours of being admitted to hospital. Ali's uncle, Parvez Shaikh, who had helped secure the job for his nephew eight months ago, expressed frustration over lack of clarity on the cause of the dog's aggression. "We hold the company responsible for not taking precaution to prevent this. We demand they show us CCTV footage to understand the incident," he said.The police have booked Marshal Dog Company and its officials under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for causing death due to negligence. Senior Inspector Sudhir Hirlekar of Vikhroli police station confirmed that a probe is on to find out cause of the attack.Animal activist and dog groomer, Urdhvi Shah, emphasised the importance of reward-based training, which reinforces positive behaviour in dogs. "We always tell pet owners to do reward-based training for pets. However, many dog trainers use punishment-based methods, which can be torture for the animals," Shah explained.Shah recounted an experience with a Labrador subjected to extreme restraint in an attempt to turn it into an aggressive guard dog. However, the dog became so aggressive that it had to be rescued and later posed a danger even to its owners. "If the dog does not get any love, don't expect loyalty in return," Shah added. Experts noted that police dogs, which undergo specialised training for bomb detection and narcotics, are typically selected for their calm temperament from a young age. In India, dog fights, particularly involving Pitbulls, are illegal but still occur in remote areas, leading to widespread animal cruelty.
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