A group of people have come forward to offer discounts on air guns claiming that they are doing so to put an end to the stray dogs menace in Kerala.
The St Thomas College Old Students association in has put up posters at various places in the Pala area announcing that they would provide a 10 percent discount on air guns to those troubled by stray dogs. The discount is extended to 25 percent for those have a police case against them in connection with targeting stray dogs.
A former teacher, James Pambakkal, who is a member of the organisation, told NDTV that they had no business interest in the venture, and had come up with the plan because they believed that authorities were more concerned about stray dogs than humans.
Jose Maveli, a social activist running a shelter home for poor and heading a group named ‘Stray Dog Eradication’, is now the first person to have availed of the offer and bought himself an air gun.
Maveli said he had launched a ‘stray dog free Kerala’ campaign last year was arrested last month from Kochi for allegedly killing 24 stray dogs in Chengamannad panchayat area.
He said he is also visiting schools and urging students to create awareness about the menace and to put pressure on the Centre and state governments to take steps to find a solution to the problem. He is also planning conventions across Kerala on the issue.
A 65-year-old woman was mauled to death by a large pack of stray dogs in August on a suburban beach at Kanjiramkulam here.
Activists of the youth wing of a political party had taken out a procession recently carrying carcasses of stray dogs tied to poles, following which the state government was asked by the Supreme Court to file a response within 3 weeks on the action taken against offenders.
The apex court had on September 14 said compassion should be shown to stray dogs but these animals should not be allowed to become a menace to society and a balance needs to be created to deal with such situations.
with PTI inputs