This Mulund resident had to pay a fine of Rs 2,500.
A Mulund resident had to pay a fine of Rs 2,500 on Saturday for treating his pet Great Dane irresponsibly and cruelly. A non-cognizable (NC) offense was also registered against him at the Mulund police station by animal lover and activist Nirali Koradia.
Reportedly, the pet, a female Great Dane, was being kept in abysmal living conditions, cramped and trapped for prolonged periods. "We received information about the dog's plight from a resident of the same building," said Meet Ashar, an animal welfare officer appointed by the Bombay High Court. The resident had reached out to activists in January in a bid to save the dog, sending photographs of its cage completely covered with an opaque plastic sheet in a manner that the animal could not see anything outside and barely any air could enter the cage.
In the last week of January, Ashar and Karodia visited the house, to find the dog blind in one eye and locked up in the cage all day long. The covering, made of material similar to that used for hoardings, had reportedly been put during the winter months and had not been removed since then. Subjected to the scorching heat, the dog was trapped in a constricted space too small for it to live, while being provided water irregularly. The Dane, over a year old, has been with the owner for almost that long.
"The owner, a driver, is often not at home and his mother is afraid of the dog. Great Dane is a big-sized breed and needs more care," said Ashar. Often referred to as the gentle giant, the Great Dane is known for its big size and friendly nature. It also requires daily exercise like most dogs.
This dog, however, was let out for only short walks twice a day. "Danes need to run and indulge in a lot of activity," said Koradia, who owns a Rottweiler herself. The activists visited the dog multiple times since January, always to find it trapped with no food around for it.
Finally on Thursday, the activists realised that nothing had changed despite repeated warnings. Koradia then decided to approach the cops. A NC offense under section 11 (1) (a), (e), (g), (h) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and section 119 of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951, was registered at the Mulund police station.
The owner was unable to produce the license issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), which allowed him to own the dog. He was instructed to remove the sheet immediately and was given a day's time to produce the proof of ownership.
"If the owner does not rectify his actions, a chapter case will be registered against him and we shall move the court to seek the dog's custody," said Ashar, adding that they will then find a good foster home for it.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "dna")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}