No vaccination, helpline, ambulance for stray dogs: Delhi High Court seeks response from Delhi government

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to Delhi government on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition seeking vaccination of stray dogs and animals against diseases like Canine parvovirus and Canine distemper. .A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Sachin Datta directed the government to apply its mind to the issues raised in the petition and come out with a clear and considered stand in the next six weeks. “It appears that the stray dogs in the city are a neglected lot. It is necessary to look after the stray dogs not only as a measure of showing respect towards animal life but also because there will be a direct impact on human population in the city,” the Court said.The case will now be considered on November 4. .The PIL filed by advocate Rahul Mohod argued that the city has no proper mechanism to vaccinate dogs for Canine distemper and Canine pargovirus diseases which are known killers. He also told the Court that there is hardly any infrastructure in place for vaccination and treatment of stray dogs and animals. Whatever infrastructure is available is dysfunctional and there is no helpline either on which citizens can seek help for the animals, the petitioner submitted. He also demanded that a committee should be constituted to submit a report on animal welfare and health mechanisms. .Appearing for Delhi government, standing counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi submitted that there is no research to show that these diseases affect the animals in India and that their immune system is enough to heal the disease. "As far as I know, there is no vaccine for these diseases either," Tripathi said. However, the bench said that it is not correct and lots of dogs die of distemper or pargovirus. "Pargovirus is a sure shot kill. All pet dogs are regularly vaccinated for these disease and you hardly hear a pet dog suffering from these diseases. The situation is different for stray ones. This requires urgent consideration and it is a serious issue," the bench said.