Animal lovers raise funds to feed stray dogs in Naregaon

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Animal rights activist Berryl Sanchis said food bags will be distributed in Naregaon and the nearby Chikalthana industrial area."Dogs in Naregaon and nearby areas have been relocated illegally by the municipal corporation and have become aggressive due to starvation. The feeding of stray dogs is out of concern for dogs as well as to ensure the safety of local residents," she said.Animal lover Nilesh Dharashivkar said people should not oppose dog feeders. "The feeding of dogs is essential to avoid man-animal conflict. Keeping dogs starved is not a solution to the menace of stray dogs, but effective animal sterilization is," he said.Animal rights activists alleged that over 500 stray dogs had been relocated and dumped into industrial areas of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar near Naregaon by the civic body over the past few months."Such relocation is taking place after the sterilisation of dogs under the Animal Birth Control programme. It is illegal. In a way, civic authorities are responsible for cases of dog bites," Sanchis said.Animal husbandry officer of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation, Shaikh Shahed Shaikh Nizam, did not respond to calls or text messages.