Dog shelters in plots adjacent to forest land; Authorities mull new move amid growing concern

ALAPPUZHA: With a dearth of space and protests from residents becoming a concern, the authorities have decided to establish dog shelters in vacant plots adjacent to forest land. District collectors have initiated steps to find land of at least half an acre in forest and uninhabited areas that are not suitable for agriculture or human habitation.

In Thiruvananthapuram, Kallara and Pangode are being considered. In Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts, search is ongoing to locate shelters near forest areas, under the leadership of the District Animal Protection Officer and Joint Director of the Local Self-Government Department. Once the land is found, money will be allocated to erect a fence about eight feet high to provide shelter. This will house the dogs without exposure to rain or sun, and arrange kitchen facilities for food.

The state government, in collaboration with the local government and animal welfare departments, has formulated the sheltering project as per the Supreme Court directives with the aim of preventing rabies. A decision was made to consider uninhabited areas for the project, as space constraints and population density posed a challenge to the implementation of the ABC project.

Along with government-owned shelters, animal lovers and animal welfare organisations have approached the Animal Welfare Department, consenting to provide shelter. About a dozen organisations, including the organisation in Poovar, which sheltered more than fifty dogs seized from the house of a female police officer in the capital city, submitted their interest in the project. Once the funds to be provided to the organisations for the maintenance of the dogs are decided, the dogs can be shifted to the shelters of animal welfare organisations.