Whenever you see a dog / cow being hit or stoned, be sure to inform the offender of the law. Should they persist, register an FIR against them at the closest police station. Do not be discouraged if the police do not, at first, take you seriously. In most cases they too do not know the animal protection laws. Be polite but firm. You will be doing a double service, punishing cruelty to a helpless animal, as well as educating the police on the animal protection laws. If the municipality in your area is still killing homeless dogs, get an appointment with the Municipal Commissioner. Inform him that it has been proven that killing dogs does not reduce either their number or the incidence of bites / rabies therefore the Courts have ruled that it is illegal to kill animals simply for being homeless. Instead the Animal Welfare Board of India has evolved a set of guidelines for all municipalities directing the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme. If there is an animal welfare organisation in the area, approach it to take up the ABC programme , if not, the municipality can do it on its own. Should the municipality not agree to stop killing, contact a lawyer and file a case under the PCA Act 1960. In the meantime, write letters to the press and encourage others to do so too. Protect the dogs in your own area by putting collars on them. If the municipality is rounding up stray dogs and abandoning them outside city limits, it is illegal under Section 11 PCA as it places them in circumstances likely to cause their death from starvation and thirst. Therefore, you can challenge this cruelty in court.
When you find cows on the street or tethered on public pavements, see if you can see any brand on them. Ask around to see if anyone knows their owner or the dairy to which they belong. Inform the owner that it is illegal to leave cows loose. If the owner does not have place to keep the cows properly or the means to feed them, file a complaint with the municipality asking that the cows be sent to a gaushala. Should you see cows with burn marks, usually on their rumps, around a particular fruit / vegetable market, it is probable that the vegetable sellers throw acid on the animals to drive them away from their stalls. If there is a market association, approach the head and inform him of the law (IPC Section 428/429). Request that all vegetable vendors be warned against this practice. Inform the police station in the area to keep an eye out for such violations. When you see an animal knocked over by a vehicle, get the number of the vehicle. Check the animal for signs of life. If possible, move it to safety and administer life saving first aid. If you can take it to a vet yourself, do so. If not, call an animal welfare organisation that has an ambulance. Once the animal is taken care of, file a complaint against the offender with the closest police station (IPC Section 428/429). If you know of any research institute that is using animals, ask from where the animals have been procured. If you suspect that the animals have been taken from the street or a pound, contact Chairperson, CPCSEA, A-4 Maharani Bagh, New Delhi-65. In the meantime file a case with the police.
It is illegal to put out poisoned food as these pose a public health hazard. (Section 11 PCA) . This means poisoning dogs, cows or any other stray animal. Transport any animal in any manner that will cause it unnecessary suffering. This includes loading cows into trucks without ramps and overcrowding the vehicle, tying up pigs and carrying them on cycles and so on (Section 11 PCA) . All violations of Section 11 are punishable with a fine of Rs 100 and / or upto 3 months in jail. It is illegal to kill homeless animals. Citizens may only report any nuisance to the Municipal authorities. The Municipality is required to maintain an animal pound for animals that it picks up. Previously, municipalities would kill these animals (mainly dogs) in a variety of brutal ways such as electrocution, starvation, burying alive and so on. After 1992, it became illegal for municipalities to kill stray dogs. The High Courts of Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Mumbai, and several other states have specifically forbidden the killing of stray dogs and directed the municipality to introduce a sensible sterilisation programme instead. The Animal Welfare Board of India has laid down a code of conduct for municipalities to follow with regard to stray dogs. Failure to do so can invite contempt of court proceedings. Section 428/429 of the Indian Penal Code makes it a cognisable offence to maim or cause injury to any animal above the value of RS 10/-. This makes it illegal to throw acid on cows (something that vegetable sellers do as a matter of routine). It also makes it illegal for cars to injure or kill dogs / cats / cows on the street. Offenders can be reported to the police station and a case filed under this section. Punishment is a fine of Indian Rs 2000 / and / or jail upto 5 years.
When you find cows on the street or tethered on public pavements, see if you can see any brand on them. Ask around to see if anyone knows their owner or the dairy to which they belong. Inform the owner that it is illegal to leave cows loose. If the owner does not have place to keep the cows properly or the means to feed them, file a complaint with the municipality asking that the cows be sent to a gaushala. Should you see cows with burn marks, usually on their rumps, around a particular fruit / vegetable market, it is probable that the vegetable sellers throw acid on the animals to drive them away from their stalls. If there is a market association, approach the head and inform him of the law (IPC Section 428/429). Request that all vegetable vendors be warned against this practice. Inform the police station in the area to keep an eye out for such violations. When you see an animal knocked over by a vehicle, get the number of the vehicle. Check the animal for signs of life. If possible, move it to safety and administer life saving first aid. If you can take it to a vet yourself, do so. If not, call an animal welfare organisation that has an ambulance. Once the animal is taken care of, file a complaint against the offender with the closest police station (IPC Section 428/429). If you know of any research institute that is using animals, ask from where the animals have been procured. If you suspect that the animals have been taken from the street or a pound, contact Chairperson, CPCSEA, A-4 Maharani Bagh, New Delhi-65. In the meantime file a case with the police.
It is illegal to put out poisoned food as these pose a public health hazard. (Section 11 PCA) . This means poisoning dogs, cows or any other stray animal. Transport any animal in any manner that will cause it unnecessary suffering. This includes loading cows into trucks without ramps and overcrowding the vehicle, tying up pigs and carrying them on cycles and so on (Section 11 PCA) . All violations of Section 11 are punishable with a fine of Rs 100 and / or upto 3 months in jail. It is illegal to kill homeless animals. Citizens may only report any nuisance to the Municipal authorities. The Municipality is required to maintain an animal pound for animals that it picks up. Previously, municipalities would kill these animals (mainly dogs) in a variety of brutal ways such as electrocution, starvation, burying alive and so on. After 1992, it became illegal for municipalities to kill stray dogs. The High Courts of Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Mumbai, and several other states have specifically forbidden the killing of stray dogs and directed the municipality to introduce a sensible sterilisation programme instead. The Animal Welfare Board of India has laid down a code of conduct for municipalities to follow with regard to stray dogs. Failure to do so can invite contempt of court proceedings. Section 428/429 of the Indian Penal Code makes it a cognisable offence to maim or cause injury to any animal above the value of RS 10/-. This makes it illegal to throw acid on cows (something that vegetable sellers do as a matter of routine). It also makes it illegal for cars to injure or kill dogs / cats / cows on the street. Offenders can be reported to the police station and a case filed under this section. Punishment is a fine of Indian Rs 2000 / and / or jail upto 5 years.
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