Kondhwa: Forest Department Takes Action Against Unleashed Dogs; Citizens Demand Strict Crackdown On Pet Owners  

Pune, December 17, 2020: The early morning walkers visiting forests on hills across the city have expressed satisfaction with the state forest department for taking strict action against unchained dogs that had been allegedly let loose in the open spaces by the pet owners. They have demanded a very strict crackdown on the errant visitors who are endangering human lives by disobeying the law.

The action comes after a serving police official visiting NIBM forest park behind Voyage to Stars Building in Mohammadwadi was bitten by an Alsatian dog left unchained by its owners.

Since then forest guards have been stationed at the spot to prevent the dog owners from bringing dogs into the open forest space. Meanwhile, a large number of morning walkers have demanded legal police protection from the unchained dogs citing fear to the lives of their children, women and senior citizens visiting the forest, parks and other hillocks alone.

Deepak Pawar, Deputy Conservator of Forests of Pune Region told media persons that an early morning action was taken against visitors who were bringing pets to the forest area. The forest officials took action based on the Indian Forest Act 1927, section 26 and Wild Life Protection Act.

Several neighbourhood groups have complained of alleged abuse and threats issued to the citizens by some animal rights groups over unchained animals especially dogs. The neighbourhood groups including civil society members said that the citizens had full constitutional rights to lodge complaints against the errant animal owners who were not following the law. They said that human life needs to be protected at any cost and if need be IPC sections must be invoked besides forest act for those pestering and endangering human life in the name of animal freedom. The citizens’ groups said that FIR must be lodged against those owners whose pets were a threat to wildlife and human life.

Recently strict action was taken against visitors bringing pets and letting them loose in the open space without thinking about small children, ailing patients, senior citizens and common citizens who are afraid of aggressive animals. The people are afraid of animal bites and children cant walk freely in the forest, we demand action against these elements, said Santosh Swamy an octogenarian walker from the NIBM area.