Maharashtra: Strays being poisoned in Ratnagiri? 27 carcasses found, 75+ dogs missing

MUMBAI: At least 100 stray dogs around Ratnagiri in the Konkan are feared to have been poisoned. Carcasses of 27 dogs were found strewn across the city on Wednesday. A criminal offence has been lodged at Ratnagiri city police station.
More than 75 dogs from different parts of the town are nowhere to be found, said Sanil Dongre, a resident of Ratnagiri town. Post-mortems were carried out on the 27 carcasses by a team of three veterinarians -- Dr Vivek Panvelkar, Dr Swaroop Kale and Dr Avinash Bhagwat.
While the poison used to kill could not be immediately specified, Dr Bhagwat said he suspects that an anti-termite powder’ has been used to poison the dogs. “It is an odourless substance that resembles sugar crystals. Within 10 minutes of its consumption, it can leave the animal writhing in pain and ultimately cause death,” Dr Bhagwat told TOI. He recalled that in 2008, at least 40 dogs had been culled en masse in Ratnagiri, by using the anti-termite powder.
Many local animal lovers watched helplessly as the dogs died, said Sabah Patankar. The stray dog population has been on the rise in Ratnagiri, said Saniket Warekar, an officer of the animal welfare board for Ratnagiri district.
“The birth control program is not being implemented in Ratnagiri currently due to which the canine population has been on the rise. This has led to many dog harassment cases,” Warekar said, adding that he had written to the municipal council and district collector about a week ago, requesting them to resume the birth control program. Warekar expressed suspicion that that some local politicians have plotted the mass dog poisoning in a bid to appease dog-haters.
Cops need to be sensitized to take quick action, said animal activist Jue Dinesh Kudtarkar. “Otherwise, perpetrators of such crimes will only feel encouraged to commit more such crimes,” Kudtarkar added. Animal welfare workers reiterated that all local municipal bodies and panchayats should maintain a fund to carry out sterilisations.