Kovai lady feeds stray dogs with police help

Residents of Saravanampatti have been cautioned by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Coimbatore North) R Stalin that if anybody stops a lady who used to feed stray dogs in the area from carrying out her volunteer work, consequences would follow.

Stalin made this statement during a meeting with S. Jennifer (41), a housemaid, filed a complaint alleging that on March 24th, a few men in the neighborhood had verbally and physically assaulted her as she was attempting to feed street dogs. A report on the event was released by TNIE on April 29. DC Stalin summoned her to ask questions after reading the report. R Celina, an animal rights activist, was with Jennifer. Stalin ordered Jennifer to go on with her duty after the investigation.

Stalin said, “It is a fundamental duty under the Indian Constitution to protect living things,” in an interview with TNIE. The 2001 Animal Birth Control Rule states that stray dogs need to be vaccinated and sterilized. It is not appropriate to provide food to stray dogs in big quantities near playgrounds for children or other areas with high population density. It is possible to provide food to stray dogs at night or in the early morning.

Jennifer provides food for stray dogs in Saravanampatti’s Alagu Nagar and Lakshmi Nagar.

If they attempted to stop her once again, he threatened to take legal action under sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code as well as section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. “I’ve provided the woman with my phone number so she can report any issues,” he said.

“Animal lovers now feel more confident thanks to the police intervention,” Celina said. Jennifer is overjoyed that she may now feed animals without anybody stopping her.