Will the owner of these birds please stand up?

While the injured cocks rescued from the drunken revelry convalesce at a city hospital, none have come forward to claim them; authorities seem clueless about their final abode

Will the owner of these birds please stand up?

While the injured cocks rescued from the drunken revelry convalesce at a city hospital, none have come forward to claim them; authorities seem clueless about their final abode

After the cops busted drunken revellers placing bets on illegal cock-fights in course of a gambling party in Borivli on Sunday, the police recovered 28 cocks, out of which six were declared dead. ('After 2-hour chase, cops bust drunken cock-fight', May 2)

Road to recovery: The injured cock being treated at the Bai Sakarbai
Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals. PICS/NIMESH DAVE

The other 22 injured cocks were admitted for medical treatment to the Bai Sakarbai Dinshaw Petit Hospital for Animals (BSDP) in Parel on Sunday evening. This is the first time in a decade that such a case has been handled by the hospital.

Speaking to MiD DAY, Dr Santosh Terse, the doctor-in-charge and assistant hospital manager said, "22 cocks have been brought here for treatment of injuries sustained during the cock-fight. Two cocks are seriously injured. The autopsy report of the three dead cocks that were brought in revealed that the cocks had died due excessive blood loss from injuries sustained. These cocks were trained for these fights and had blades tied to their legs to inflict deeper injuries upon their opponents. The injuries that the cocks sustained were mostly from these blades. Besides, they had rashes and head wounds from repeated pecking, and broken claws."

Asked about the other grievously injured cocks, Terse said, "One cock has abrasions and incised wounds on the breast, along with injuries on both limbs. The second cock is more severely injured. It has sustained multiple wounds on the body and required sutures on its breast." He added that the injuries sustained were critical, and would take time to heal. "These wounds are being treated with hydrogen peroxide, Betadine lotion, oral antibiotic Novamax, and Vengrow multi-vitamin drops. Water solutions with multi-vitamin drops are also being ministered to the other cocks. Their diet comprises jowar, broken pieces of rice, mashed chapattis and finely ground wheat," he added.

While the cocks receive some tender love and care after their traumatic tribulations on Sunday, uncertainty looms large for them, the reason being that no one has come forward yet to claim them.

Lt Col (Dr) J C Khanna, secretary of BSPCA and BSDP Hospitals said, "I have been handed over the custody of these cocks by the police, but the duration of custody has not being specified. We are a hospital, and cannot provide shelter to them for more than 15 or 20 days. There is a high chance that they will spread infections to other animals. The most grievously injured cocks will take approximately 10 days to recover completely.

Beyond that point, it would be difficult to keep them within the hospital premises. We do not want other animals to be harmed."

A case was registered against those arrested on Sunday, under section 12(A) of the Gambling Act. According to a police official at the MHB Colony police station, "The men who were arrested were produced in the court, which has granted them bail. After treatment, the cocks will be handed over to the BMC." Khanna however clarified that the cocks cannot be handed over to the civic body, as they do not have any place to keep them, adding, "If the police grants me permission, I will send these cocks to a poultry farm."