13 Animal Cruelty Complaints Resolved, Pune District Panel Pushes Preventive Measures

Pune, 3rd September 2026: The District Animal Cruelty Prevention Committee has directed government departments and local bodies to ensure timely action on complaints of animal cruelty and step up preventive measures to reduce such incidents across the district.

A meeting of the committee, chaired by Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi at the Collectorate, discussed district-level planning for animal welfare and laid down the course of action for addressing complaints related to cruelty, cattle protection, slaughterhouses and transportation of animals.

Deputy Commissioner of Animal Husbandry Dr Rajeshkumar Vasnik, Assistant Commissioner of Animal Husbandry Vishnu Garje and officials from various departments attended the meeting.

Vasnik said the police department, municipal corporations, municipalities, nagar panchayats, gram panchayats and government and semi-government organisations should coordinate on animal welfare issues. Complaints concerning animal cruelty, cattle protection, slaughterhouses and transportation of animals should be dealt with according to a standard operating procedure (SOP), he said.

The meeting also called for action against practices such as beating animals, injuring them with sharp objects, failing to provide medical treatment to sick or injured animals, keeping them in confined or inadequate spaces and denying them sufficient food, water or shelter. Officials stressed the need to treat animals with sensitivity and compassion.

On stray dog management, local bodies were directed to identify designated spaces for shelter, accommodation and feeding in accordance with Supreme Court directions. A time-bound programme for sterilisation, medical treatment and other necessary facilities was also sought.

The committee said 13 complaints had been received under the animal cruelty prevention mechanism since last year and all of them had been resolved. Officials were directed to ensure that future complaints are handled sensitively and within the stipulated time.

The committee also asked authorities to set targets for reducing animal cruelty cases this year and prepare a comprehensive action plan. It suggested that effective practices adopted by gram panchayats, municipal councils and nagar panchayats be developed into models and replicated in other talukas.

The meeting further called for coordinated and planned action concerning slaughterhouses and transportation of animals, with the aim of ensuring effective implementation of animal welfare measures across the district.