After petition, IIT-Madras gives custody of 3 ill dogs to NGO

CHENNAI: Three gravely ill dogs kept in an enclosure at IIT-Madras were released into the care of People for Animals on Wednesday after the NGO petitioned the institute.
PFA's Shirnai Pareira, who went to seek release of 14 dogs, could get custody of only three. The veterinarian who treated the dogs after their release said they appeared dehydrated and deprived of food.
Since October 4, 2020, IIT-M has kept 186 stray dogs in confinement on campus. In an inspection this August, the animal husbandry department found 14 dogs to be sick. NGOs had sought the release of these dogs for treatment. The dogs were just four to six years old. On an inspection visit this month, health minister Ma Subramanian had raised objections to keeping the dogs caged.
After the deaths of over 45 dogs in the past few months, a police complaint was lodged against IIT-M registrar Jane Prasad and others by animal activist Harish of Bangalore. Prasad did not respond to messages from TOI.
Animal activist Saraswathi Mopuru said IIT-M has accepted that 56 dogs have died. They should hand over the care of the dogs to someone else instead of locking them up this way, she said.