Labrador pup rescued, owners booked for neglect in Bengaluru

Volunteers rescued a two-and-a-half-month labrador puppy from her pet parents in Bengaluru after it emerged that she was not being looked after and was suffering from nutritional deficiency.

Women who lived in a PG opposite the house in Koramangala highlighted the issue through a Facebook group after which the puppy was rescued and taken to  CUPA (Compassion Unlimited Plus Action) in Sarjapur where it is currently being treated with nutritional supplements and a good diet.

A case was also filed against the owners of the pet under section 11 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. As per the Act, if the owner “neglects to exercise or cause to be exercised reasonably any dog habitually chained up or kept in close confinement”, they can be punished with a fine or imprisonment up to three months.

Photographs and videos published on the Facebook group 'Anirmal Rescue Bangalore' showed that the puppy was kept chained in an area where there was no shelter from rain.

Rescuers found that the puppy had not been given a bath or timely food and water. Her nutrients and calcium levels were found to be low and her collar was so tight it had to be cut open to be removed, a rescuer told Times of India.

In Bengaluru, a signifcant numbers of dogs are frequently abandoned by their owners. According to officials at CUPA's Second Chance Adoption center in Bengaluru, one of the main reasons dogs are abandoned is because people often aren’t aware that there are animal organisations which care for dogs. Even when people are aware, there is often a  cost associated with leaving the animal at a shelter, which can also be a deterrent. Pedigree dogs are often abandoned because of owners who are able to make a one-time investment to purchase the dogs (especially when puppy mills and illegal breeders are selling the dogs at low prices), but many don't consider the long-term expenses and committment required to care for the animal. What's more, dogs often feel emotional stress when they are abruptly given up by their owner.

At the center, pets are given a physical health checkup before they are deemed ready for adoption again.