MUMBAI: In a shocking case of animal cruelty, over 20 dogs were poisoned to death near the Ganesh Mandir area in Titwala, Thane (rural), on Monday night. Several birds including crows and hens who ate the poisoned laced food have also died on the spot. The animal rights group Cheersfurever Foundation has lodged an FIR against unknown persons at the Kalyan Taluka police station in Titwala (West).
Assistant commissioner of police (anti-corruption bureau) Sudhir Kudalkar, who helped the activists to lodge the FIR, said: "Prima facie it looks like a case of mass poisoning of dogs. Some poison was mixed in the food given to the victim animals resulting in their deaths. Three bodies have been sent for post-mortem. It is highly cruel on part of the culprits to have done this."
The activists of Cheersfurever Foundation -- Chetan Chavan, Swapnil Kamble, and Pratika Agarwal -- told TOI that it is saddening to see dead crows and a few chickens who also had this poisonous food given to the dogs. Some of the dead dogs were thrown into a swamp close to the temple, they added.
"We are planning to have an animal rights awareness drive in this Titwala region to educate the locals that it is cruel and illegal to harm or kills animals, as it also invites a jail term of five years. We have urged the police to find the cruel perpetrators of this crime," said Kamble.
The Kalyan Taluka police informed that the FIR was lodged under IPC section 429 for the killing of the dogs and birds.
Honorary district animal welfare officer, Mitesh Jain, said: "While the post-mortem report is awaited, it is quite apparent that the victim dogs who were healthy and well looked after by local animal lovers, were coldly and cruelly poisoned to death. I have often come across cases where rat poison is mixed with food given to the animals. It leads to a painful but a certain death for the mute animals."
Earlier this year, several dogs were similarly found dead due to poisoning at Morbe village in Panvel taluka of Raigad district.
While the latest poisoning of 20 dogs at Titwala has shaken animal lovers, many recalled the dreadful killing of over 50 dogs in Nerul in the intervening night of July 8-9 in 2008. ``On the morning of July 9, 2008, it was heart wrenching to see the local dogs lying dead on the streets in various areas of Nerul. It was a huge conspiracy by someone close to the government authorities to kill these healthy and sterilized dogs. Till date no one has been caught,'' said activist Arati Chauhan of Navi Mumbai Animal Protection Cell.
Animal lovers have observed `Poison Biscuit Day' over the years in remembrance of the dogs killed in Nerul; urging citizens to be kind to all animals.
She further added: "During the ongoing Swachhatha Abhiyaan, we fear that many civic bodies or the contracted parties may be eliminating the dogs like this as part of the 'cleanliness drive'. Much more awareness is required to strengthen the animal protection laws."
Activist Vijay Mohanani of Bombay Animal Rights (BAR) said: "I too had sent my volunteers to Titwala on Tuesday, after getting to know about the poisoning. This is shocking and heartrending, to say the least. Hope the police catch the culprits so that people start fearing the law."