Seven pedigree dogs, including a Great Dane, a Labrador, and a Bulldog, abandoned in March
Seven pedigree dogs, including a Great Dane, a Labrador, and a Bulldog, abandoned in March
An increasing number of Mumbaikars are either abandoning their pedigree pets on the roads or getting them admitted to animal hospitals like the one run by the Society For The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Parel and claiming they are strays, so they can get the animals treated for free.
The owners often turn up after the animals recover, and tell the hospital that they want to adopt the 'strays'.u00a0
"Despite repeated calls, the owner of Dianna, a Great Dane, for instance, refuses to take the dog back since he got it admitted here on November 28. Dianna's injured leg had to be amputated," said Dr Yuvraj Kaginkar, hospital manager, SPCA.
And Dianna's owner told MiD-DAY, "My friend owns the dog. It was he who asked me to abandon it at the SPCA. I am 49, and retired. I can't afford him."
Unaffordable
Vickey, a Grant Road resident, similarly abandoned a three-year-old horse at the SPCA he uses to earn a living from. "I can't afford to spend on him, as I don't earn much," said Vickey.
Dr Suhas Rane, a vet from Mulund, said that seven pedigree dogs have been abandoned on city roads in March.u00a0
"Every day, about four pet owners try to pass off their pets as strays at our hospital. This was rare a few months earlier. They eventually admit they are trying to get the animals treated for free, when we tell them that we don't return strays," Kaginkar added.
According to statistics available with the BMC, there are more than 70,812 stray dogs in the city.
Categories of patients at SPCA Hospitalu00a0
>> OFP or Owner Full Paid, where the person who owns the animal pays for the treatment of
their pet.
>> SDC or Stray Dog Concession is given to one who brings in an injured dog. The person is, however, asked to pay according to his or her capacity.
>> SF or Stray Free category applies to animals that are treated absolutely free.
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