Dog lovers in HSR Layout are worried about the strange case of missing stray dogs, which they believe have been taken away from various streets in the area and relocated to an unknown place. They believe over 60 dogs are missing, and have approached the HSR Layout police with a written complaint.
“We have been regularly feeding the dogs. In the first week of November, we started noticing that a few dogs were missing. We thought they had gone into hiding due to the bursting of crackers close to Deepavali. But even after the festival, these dogs failed to return,” said Abhilash, a dog lover who lives in the area.
“Most of the dogs in the area have been neutered and vaccinated, and 12 community guardians have been looking after them. We were shocked when the dogs went missing,” said another resident.
The citizens had approached the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. According to Dr. Ravi, Assistant Director (Animal Husbandry), Bommanahalli zone, BBMP, the civic body has taken note of the issue. “The BBMP officials accompanied the residents to register the complaint. We do not know who is involved,” he said.
According to animal activists, relocating stray dogs is not only illegal, but does no good to the area from where these dogs are relocated. “Relocation changes the balance of a place. When the dogs are shifted to a new location, where there is already an established colony of dogs, it lead to fights for food and territory. Meanwhile, it creates a vacancy in the original location. This attracts newer dogs, which have to be neutered and vaccinated. So, it is best the dogs are left where they are,” said Nandita Subbarao, an animal activist.
