Kerala   

Abandoned pet dog rescued

— Photo: S. Gopakumar

Insensitive: The dog abandoned by its owners lying on the road near Kalady, in the city on Thursday morning.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It was a sight bound to break the heart of any animal lover. Abandoned by its owners, a fully-grown German Shepherd dog was left to die by the roadside.

Local people watched helplessly as the animal was flung out of a moving car near an open ground by the side of the Kalady-Attukal road on Thursday morning. They reported seeing the animal yelping and squealing in protest as it was being forced out of the car. The vehicle, a white Maruti Omni, sped off after throwing the dog out.

Local residents gathered around as the big black-and-yellow dog lay on without moving, as if it had resigned to its cruel fate. One of them rang up an animal rights organisation and the City Corporation office.

Within minutes, the Corporation’s team of trained animal handlers arrived on the spot. On inspection, they found that the dog was badly wounded. Chief Veterinary Officer L. Ravikumar, who accompanied the team, said, “it was docile and responded well to our care, right from the time we started tending to it. There were two gaping wounds on its back, both crawling with maggots. Judging from the matted hair and the condition of the animal, it had been neglected for some time. Apparently, the owners decided to get rid of the dog after it became injured.”

The dog, a male aged five years, was immediately shifted to the Corporation’s veterinary hospital at Pettah where it was quarantined for a 48-hour observation. “We decided to isolate it since it was not clear how the wounds were caused. For all we know, it may have been attacked by a rabid street dog. The animal was also heavily dehydrated and underfed,” Dr. Ravikumar said.

The dog was administered antibiotics. The blood sample will be collected on Friday to check for leptospirosis or filariasis.

Dr. Ravikumar said efforts were on to trace the owners. “The Corporation can take action against them under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Kerala Municipalities Act,” he said.

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