Kozhikode: The rights of animals are protected, but not that of the people who look after them. The handlers of police dogs who went to the national training centre for dogs in Haryana in December last year had a harrowing time.
The first batch of the total 40 handlers and 20 dogs returned in two buses on June 17. The trainers/handlers were supposed to travel by train but they came back by bus. They also alleged that the bus travel cost more than the train journey.
“For seven days, we struggled to reach Kerala as the temperature was high and it was difficult to manage the dogs inside the bus. Sometimes, we slept on the pavements while the colleagues took care of the dogs,” said one of the handlers.
Five more dogs and 10 policemen are yet to return. They were yet to know the exact date of return and about the transportation. The veterinary doctor, who checked the dogs, had advised that they should be transported in air-conditioned coaches of train. A vet should accompany them if they are taken in buses.
The officer-in-charge of the dog squad told this newspaper that he was not aware of the matter as the decisions are taken at a higher level.
