Limitless Cruelty:  Criminals kill 6 stray dogs by poisoning

By Mamata Mohapatra

Bhubaneswar, April 4: Six stray dogs, including three puppies, were allegedly poisoned to death in a slum in state capital Bhubaneswar.

The inhumane incident was reported from Maitri Vihar area. The dogs were on Monday found vomiting. While three of them perished on Monday, the remaining died on Tuesday.

Sources said some local residents, irritated over the aggressive nature of stray dogs, poisoned them.

“The dogs were staying near my house. We used to offer them food after cooking meals every day. But some miscreants poisoned them. We are deeply hurt over the brutal and condemnable act as every living creature has the right to live,” said a local resident.

People for Animals (PFA), a registered Animal Welfare Organisation, has lodged a formal police complaint with the Chandrasekharpur Police Station in connection with the heartless act.

“The killing of dogs is illegal under section 428, 429 (mischief of killing and maiming animal) and is punishable and amounts to both imprisonment and fine. It is also a violation of section 11 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960,” read the complaint filed by PFA member J.B. Das.

It is not the first time that animal cruelty has been reported in Odisha. Earlier, a snacks shop owner allegedly poisoned as many as 20 stray dogs to death in Cuttack in September 2021. He was then taken into custody and a legal case was filed against him.