PETA to take rescued horses to Sangli

Court observes BMC cattle pound not suitable for the animals

Respite: The horses, used in an illegal race, were rescued last month.

Mumbai: Saying that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) cattle pound does not have suitable arrangements for five horses rescued recently, the Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court has allowed the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India to take the animals to Sangli.

Magistrate S.B. Bhajipale was ruling on an intervention application filed by PETA, asking for permanent custody of the horses under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Care and Maintenance of Case Property Animals) Rules, 2017. PETA is seeking permanent housing for the animals at a sanctuary in Sangli.

The Vile Parle police seized six horses used in an illegal race on December 26, 2017. One of the horses died in the cattle pound. PETA spokesperson Nikunj Sharma said, “We learnt that six individuals had conducted an illegal tonga race, and one of the horses collapsed in this race. An FIR was lodged under the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act, 1960, and Indian Penal Code.”

After the custody of the horses was given to the BMC, the animals were taken to the BMC cattle pound in Malad. “In less than three days, one of the horses died. The postmortem report revealed that it died due to choking. The rope used to tie it was too tight. Hence, we decided to file an intervention,” Mr. Sharma said.

The owner of the horses had also sought their custody, but the court declined the application.

Mr. Sharma said that as per the court’s order, PETA cannot take the horses in its custody, but would be responsible for providing basic veterinarian services. “We have written to the BMC Commissioner and the Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, requesting that they promptly implement the 2015 judgement of the Bombay High Court and enforce provisions that require the seizure of horses from unlicensed stables and those being illegally used for joyrides and races,” he said.

PETA had said in its application that the suspects in the current case violated this judgement, as keeping horses in Mumbai is illegal, as none of the stables are licensed by the BMC, and that tonga races have been banned in the country after a 2016 judgement of the High Court of Rajasthan at Jodhpur.