Feeding, sheltering strays can cost IIT-Guwahati students Rs 10,000

GUWAHATI: 'Adoption' of stray dogs and feral cats may cost students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati (IIT-G), dear as they may have to pay a heavy penalty or even get debarred from the hostel. A recent notification from the institute warned that it would levy a fine of Rs 10,000 if any boarder was found with pets in the room.
The notice said that keeping pets in rooms, feeding animals inside the hostel area, rooms and corridors is strictly prohibited. "Violators will be dealt strictly with a heavy fine of Rs 10,000 and be debarred from the hostel (fine to be payable within a month in favour of Hostel Welfare Fund)," read the notice. Officials at IIT-G said the rules of 'adoption' are not applicable to students.
Sources in the institute said stray dogs are chasing students who mostly come on bicycles to attend classes. Complaints have poured in from staff whose children play on campus and on many occasions narrowly escaped being bitten by dogs. An official said the number of stray dogs on the campus would be around 300. The number of cats is yet to be estimated.
"Presence of feral dogs and cats on the campus is not new. They were here even before the institute infrastructure was built in the 1990s. Feeding them with leftovers and 'adoption' by providing food and shelter in the hostels has resulted in a significant rise in their number. It's a worrying sign for a closed campus," said a senior official of IIT-G.
An official said it's the generosity of students that they are feeding and taking care of wild dogs and cats. "The care of students towards the pets is indeed praiseworthy but it has increased the risk of infection. The biggest source of food for the dogs is the hostel canteens," the official added. He said in the process of feeding animals, foods are being thrown around in the hostels.
A veterinary doctor associated with IIT-G said due to lack of adequate birth control measures, the population of dogs remains unchecked at IIT-G. He said if the feral dogs are deprived of food, they will become more ferocious.
"After proper vaccination, students can be allowed to adopt dogs or cats. The bigger threat is non-vaccination and lack of deworming of stray dogs. Levying fines on students is not the solution," said Parag Lahkar, an activist of Golaghat Foundation, associated with animal welfare in Assam.
"If institute rules do not permit keeping stray dogs and cats in student hostels, one has to follow them. But the rules can be reviewed. Moreover, exceptional orders, through which the veterinary department allows adoption of pets, can be explored," said Nishamoni Borah, Gauhati High Court advocate.
"The problem is not caring for the pets but causing problems to others. In most hostel rooms at IIT-G, two students can stay. Keeping pets can disturb the roommate," said an IIT-G student.