At least 10 dogs have been found abandoned in a breeding kennel in Secunderabad.
Highlights
- Six dogs had died, four are barely alive in Secunderabad kennel
- Owner has not been seen for a month, caretaker for a fortnight
- A case has been filed with the local police
In an example of shocking cruelty and neglect, at least 10 dogs have been found abandoned in a breeding kennel in Secunderabad. Chained or in cages, six had died without food or water. Four are fighting for their lives.
The owner had not been seen for over a month, the caretaker for more than two weeks. The locals woke up to the animals' plight only after detecting a stench from the area. By then it was too late for most of the dogs.
"There were insects all over the dogs that were alive," said Sai Charan, a 20-year-old engineering student who was the first to go and investigate on Sunday. "The pug's face had insects too. Another dog was chained. In one enclosure, the dog had been reduced to a heap of fur."
Locals say late on Sunday night, some of the carcasses were removed, possibly by men employed by the landlord. "The smell still lingers. The officials haven't really taken action," said Ram Reddy, a resident.
The Blue Cross has filed cases with the local police. Pradeep Nair of the Hyderabad Blue Cross, who has been closely following the case, said, "It is unimaginable that dogs would have been chained or locked up before being abandoned. But the city police are more than determined to catch the accused."
Vasanthi Vadi, President of Blue Cross Hyderabad, says there is a slim chance that the four dogs will survive.
"Our worry is whether this was a breeding kennel or a place where stolen dogs where brought and then resold. We need to investigate this," she said.