Mumbai: After backlash, Kandivli dogs to be brought back from Aarey shelter

A still from the video showing the dogs being left at Aarey, which had been circulated on social media

Following a police complaint and pressure from animal welfare activists, community dogs from a Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) housing society in Kandivli, which had been relocated to Aarey Milk Colony, will be brought back to the premises of the housing society from where they were taken.

Honorary Animal Welfare officer and Mumbai President of NGO People For Animals Vijay Rangare told mid-day that at present the dogs are in a shelter home and will soon be released to their original location - the housing society at Kandivli East - after sterilisation (birth control) is carried out on the dogs which require it.

"The SRA housing society in Kandivli East from where the dogs were relocated have promised the police that they will cooperate. The Samta Nagar police station will be taking a written bond from the society stating that they will not relocate the dogs again. At present the dogs are in our custody at a shelter home," said Rangare.

Under the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) rules, street and community dogs have to be released back into their area after sterilisation and/or other treatment, so releasing the dogs back to their original location is following the law.

Rangare had also filed a complaint against the society with the SRA on April 21. The SRA in response had written to the housing society instructing that pets in the society should be treated according to the provisions of the law.

Four individuals have been booked in connection with the matter under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita. Those named in the FIR are reported to be residents of the housing society from where the dogs were taken. The video of the relocation had gone viral on social media.