Stray dog removal in Delhi for G20 deemed illegal by animal rights activists.

The dogs will be released back to the same locations they were picked up from.

New Delhi:

People for Animals (PFA) has termed “illegal, impractical, and unwarranted” the plan of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi to remove stray dogs from the streets of the national capital for sterilization in the wake of the G20 Summit scheduled next month.

A circular issued by the MCD on Wednesday said a massive sterilization program for dogs will start from Thursday and will continue till August 30.

According to the circular, the stray dogs will be kept at the Animal Birth Control (ABC) centers temporarily due to the G-20 Summit. However, these dogs will be released back to the same locations they were picked up from.

All the stray dogs picked up shall be kept at ABC centers for their further care and feeding till the program is over, it said.

Terming the action as “arbitrary”, Ambika Shukla, a PFA Trustee, said catching and confinement of stray dogs is both cruel and unnecessary. “Clearly, no planning or thought has gone into this initiative. No notice, no consultation, no procurement of nets, no staff training, no nothing. All ABC units are opposing this move as it is illegal, impractical and unwarranted,” she said in a statement.

It said apart from being unnecessary, it is also illegal to pick up sterilized dogs, which is impractical.

“ABC centers are quick-release facilities and they do not have the space, staff, or infrastructure to house dogs for a month safely. The dogs are severely at risk from catching infections in such close and prolonged confinement,” the statement said.

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