After one dies, NGO seeks custody of three surviving animals, which are being treated at BMC’s cattle pound in Malad
One of the four horses spotted near the Bombay Port Trust Road in Sewri on June 21. Pic/By Special Arrangement
An FIR has been registered against an individual after four neglected and extremely emaciated horses were found in Sewri by an activist. One of the animals died two days after they were shifted to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) cattle pound in Malad for treatment.
Speaking about how the matter came to light, Saloni Sakaria, lead cruelty response coordinator at PETA India, told mid-day she received information on June 19 about a horse collapsing on Bombay Port Trust Road under the Eastern Freeway in Sewri around 6.30 pm. “I immediately rushed to the spot. Sewri residents informed that the horse had collapsed on the main road and was later moved about 50 metres away by its owner and a few others. The horse was standing when I reached the spot, but there was no owner present. A horse collapsing on the street is a horrible sign, as they are extremely strong animals,” Sakaria said.
On June 21, a complaint was filed at the Sewri police station. “I told them the horse was found in a miserable condition, kept illegally by the railway tracks without a shed, water or food, and even after collapsing, it was not taken to a hospital. The owner was not at all responsible,” she added.
Police officers then visited the location the same day, along with PETA activists. “When we went there with four to five cops, we found not one, but four horses,” Sakaria said. The police subsequently registered an FIR under Sections 3 and 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. BMC officials also arrived at the spot later in the day and seized all four horses. The animals were shifted to the BMC cattle pound in Malad for treatment.
On June 23, the horse that had earlier collapsed died at the pound. “It was probably suffering a lot. Though our team was visiting almost daily to provide treatment, we don’t know what internal issues the horse was going through,” Sakaria said. PETA has filed a petition in court, seeking custody of the remaining three horses to move them to a proper sanctuary. “We are still in the legal battle for their custody, fighting to get these animals proper care,” she said.
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