Mettur civic official in dock for killing dog

METTUR: An animal rights group has sought action against Narayanaswamy, commissioner of Mettur municipality, for his order to 40 municipality workers to kill the pet dog of his neighbour.

On November 20, enraged by the constant barking of his neighbour’s dog, the commissioner ordered 40 municipality workers to kill the dog, said Arun Prassana of the People for Cattle India (PFCI). The workers caught the dog in a span of about five hours, and after poisoning it, they chased it and dragged it using a chain, before beating it to death.

“The owner of the dog is a police officer who lives on the same government staff premises as the municipal commissioner,” said Arun. Carried out in public view, the act, which also displayed a violation the duties of municipality workers apart from killing an innocent animal, was reported in a number of local newspapers.
 PFCI has filed a petition with the DGP of police, Chennai, seeking action against the government servant.

Narayanaswamy, however, told DC, that the dog was sick and had bitten a number of people in the locality. “It was killed in the presence of a veterinary doctor after many people complained about it. I have a Rottweiler and am an animal lover,” he said.

According to Tamil Nadu SHRC guidelines, dogs terminally ill or rabid can be euthanized by injecting them poison in the presence of a government certified veterinary doctor.

“The act is not only cruel but is a violation of animal rights and the workers were ordered to chase and kill the animal. Action should be taken against the commissioner who despite being a government servant has set a wrong example in front of others,” Arun added.