GUWAHATI, April 30 - Several cases of cruelty to animals including pets amid the lockdown, have been reported from different parts of the city, alleged Just Be Friendly (JBF), a city-based animal welfare NGO here.
JBF office-bearers informed that the animals are brutally beaten with rods or other hard objects. Such inhuman behaviour of the people or animal owners is a punishable offence, they said.
Pets or stray animals do not spread coronavirus and anyone who abandons or harasses animals suspecting them to be carriers of the disease, is liable to be prosecuted under Section 11(1) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, a statement issued by JBF said.
In this connection, JBF appealed to the police to act immediately whenever any person, feeder or animal welfare activist reports such incidents. It also called upon the residents and local authorities to cooperate with animal feeders with full protection and respect as they are offering animals feed and are carrying out their fundamental duties as per Article 51A(g) of the Indian Constitution.
The NGO also provides transportation service through its animal transporting van to needy dogs from the streets of Guwahati in situations when the rescuers cannot transport the animals to the treatment centre.
JBF has also been carrying out an awareness drive through social media on the topic �Lockdown Saviour of Animals� and appealed to everyone to put a bowl of water and some food just outside their residential compound or gate so that the nearby stray animals can consume them.
The NGO has also taken the initiative to provide animal food (packaged and cooked) to various agencies like Assam Police, press clubs, NGOs and individual feeders of Guwahati and Bongaigaon so that they can feed the stray animals during the current lockdown.
Till date a number of personalities like Rewati Chetri, Zublee Baruah, Dr Bijit Deb Choudhury, Rajib Kro, Dr Saurabh Hazarika, Aradhana Buragohain, Poran Borkatoky and Pompi Gogoi have joined hands with JBF to spread awareness about the well-being of the stray animals during these difficult times.
