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Open Letter To Editor Regarding Dog Feeding Issue

Open letter to editor regarding dog feeding issue in N Dutta Marg, Andheri West

In reference to the following article published in 'Times Of West Mumbai dated 10th May 09

http://www.mumbaipluses.com:80/andheriplus/index.aspx?page=article&sectid=1&contentid=200905102009051117353956486c19053&sectxslt=&comments=true

To

The Editor,

Times Of West Mumbai

Andheri - West

Sub: Open letter to editor regarding dog feeding issue in N Dutta Marg, Andheri West

Sir,

I, Fizzah Shah, President of Organization 'In Defence of Animals' would like to address this communication to you in connection with the article published in 'Times Of West Mumbai dated 10th May 09 "Strays take over Andheri Street" by Kinjal Shah.

A Resident of N Datta Marg Andheri (West), Ms. Jaggi claims that she contacted us regarding our volunteer Suman Sutar. I would like to clarify that Ms. Jaggi has never contacted me or any of other IDA member regarding the feeding issue in her area. I have had no verbal or in written communication with her. If she would have contacted us we could have come out with some amicable solution to this issue. Your reporter Ms Kinjal Shah also did not verify with me about the statement of Ms. Jaggi and went ahead and put up her statement which is utterly false and exaggerated. Ms. Suman Sutar who is doing a humane work towards the stray dogs by helping in sterilization and rabies vaccination to the area dogs in fact is doing a great work towards the society but this article has shown her as a villain or a terrorist, committing a criminal offence and your report has even suggested how to punish her for the work she is doing for the mute animals. This kind of one sided article is not expected from the reputed new paper of Times Group.

As a running animal organization of high repute, here I would like to put some facts why feeding is necessary for the stray dogs. We are the organization engaged in Animal Birth Control Program along with the BMC as per Mumbai High Court order. We need to catch stray dogs for the sterilization and vaccination against rabies virus. We also run free animal mobile clinics to treat these animals in case if they are sick or injured. Our volunteers from respective areas keep a check on their areas dogs and inform us if they require the medical treatment, sterilization or vaccinations. In order to treat these dogs we need to be friendly with them therefore we ask our volunteers to feed them at least once in a day so they remain human friendly and do not resist when we have to pick them up or have to treat them. Every year we give them anti rabies shot for which we need our volunteers help, who have already won the hearts of these dogs and the dogs willingly come to them. Though we work for the animals but the fact is that it gives all the benefit to human being. Our aim is to reduce the stray dogs population and make our Mumbai A RABIES FREE CITY. If our volunteers are not allowed to feed these dogs how do we are going to continue our work which finally benefit the residence of the area. As civilized citizen we are duty bound to our animals too.

All the living being needs the food and water for the survival and since Mumbai High Court has given the judgment to sterilize the stray dogs and allow them to live on the street it's but obvious they need the means of survival that is at least food once in a day. It is inhumane to starve the animals which can result in agressiveness, sickness and unnecessary painful death. These dogs which are fed by Suman are old dogs absolutely tame and human friendly. She is feeding them since many years and has not witness a single case of violence or aggressiveness of dogs. Also, she is not littering on the road so why should the BMC take any objection? If a handful of animal haters wants to stop the work of humanity and compassion for the mute animals, it cannot be justified. Can any one imagine if our volunteer stop the work due to the constant harassment from the person like Ms Jaggi and her few like minded associates and if we stop sterelization and anti rabies vaccination and the hungry starved dog bite anybody in the area will these animal haters will take the responsibility and will they give in writing they don't support the sterilization and anti rabies vaccine program run by NGO and they don't mind if the dog population and dog bite cases increase in the area. Sterilization is done in accordance with the Mumbai High Court Ruling and the people who create the hindrance in this program are committing contempt of High Court ruling and are liable for legal action.

Here is earnestly request to animal haters and animal lovers to bring an amicable solution to this issue and see the positive aspect of the work which is done without any selfish motive for the stray animals. Let's practice the policy of live a let live. As Mahatma Gandhi father of our nation has said " THE GREATNESS OF A NATION AND ITS MORAL PROGRASS CAN BE JUDGE BY THE WAY ITS ANIMALS ARE TREATED"

Fizzah Shah
President
In Defence Of Animals