Kerala HC seeks immediate intervention in brutal killing of a Labrador dog

Kochi: The Kerala High Court on Friday asked the state government to see that immediate steps are taken to submit the charge sheet in the brutal killing of a labrador dog, so that the trial can be started at the earliest.

Taking up the case suo moto after media reports about the incident that took place in Adimalathurai coastal village in the state capital on June 28, the court asked the state government to submit its report in 10 days even as the government counsel said that three people have been arrested.

The suo moto proceedings was renamed to In Re: Bruno in memory of the hapless dog that succumbed to the inhuman acts of three youngsters.

We feel that this would be a fitting tribute to the hapless dog that succumbed to acts of human cruelty, and disturbed by which incident we had initiated these proceedings," the order passed today said."

The Court ordered the state government to explore the possibility of promoting and holding animal adoption camps throughout the state, at periodic intervals of not less than thrice a year, where persons can be encouraged to adopt animals that have been abandoned by their owners, and are left to wander in the streets in search of food and shelter. Besides, it asked the government to explore the possibility of entrusting the District Administrations across the State, with the power to enquire into complaints of infringement of animal rights and cruelty to animals, as also instances where persons are prevented from keeping pets of their choice in their residential apartments

The court also asked the Animal Welfare Board for an explanation and also the present situation of the facilities in the veterinary clinics.

According to the reports, Vizhinjam police have arrested three persons for brutally torturing the seven-year-old pet dog by hanging it on a fish hook on a boat, before beating it to death and then throwing the carcass into the sea. The incident was captured on video by a witness and posted to the dog's owner Christuraj.

Issues between the accused and the owner of the dog have been identified as the main reason for this gruesome incident.

Meanwhile, animal rights activists said that the feeble punishments warranted by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA) and lack of awareness among police personnel about the need to initiate action against cruelty to animals were the key reasons for cruelty to animals becoming frequent.