The Animal Welfare Board of India has asked the Registrar of IIT Madras and the Tamil Nadu Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sevices Director to immediately investigate the Animal Birth Control program conducted by the IIT. A few days ago, an alumna, Tryphena Dudley had written to the AWBI, alleging that the dogs that are captured for sterilisation are not released back to the campus. She also alleged that strays are impounded in a concealed area inside the campus and that nobody is allowed to visit the facility.
"This is against the provisions of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 which mandates that the dogs shall be released at the same place or locality from where they were captured for sterilisation," reads the letter by the AWBI Secretary S K Dutta. The letter also asks them to ensure that no one is prevented from feeding or caring for dogs and cats. Previously, the IIT had set up exclusive zones to feed strays and had prohibited feeding them anywhere else.
Tryphena, in her letter, had also alleged that the security guards have been instructed to beat and kill the dogs at night and that the caretakers of dogs are verbally abused. Talking to EdexLive, another researcher had also said that the campus is currently devoid of the majority of its canine population and that sterilised dogs are being taken away. The AWB has now asked the institute to contact the Chennai Municipal Corporation or the Blue Cross of India, Chennai, which will institute a scientific ABC program. "IIT Madras may also have an active volunteer community whose services can be more formally utilised by you to help coordinate such issues," the letter says.
