JU divided over doghouse treatment for dogs on campus

Kolkata: Jadavpur University (JU) has written to Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to immediately capture all stray dogs from the campus, including areas near the quarters, and ensure their vaccination and sterilisation following multiple dog-bite cases on campus. Meanwhile, a letter with over 580 signatures from animal lovers, including teachers and students, was submitted to the VC on Friday, stating that most of the resolutions of the animal welfare committee are "unscientific, ill-informed and seem geared towards eliminating animals — specifically dogs — from the campus rather than ensuring their welfare."In the past two weeks, stray dogs reportedly entered JU and bit a large number of people inside. "The committee proposed that all stray dogs on campus should be immediately captured, vaccinated and sterilised following the SC order, which states that the strays may not be returned. The university has also written to KMC requesting to vaccinate and sterilise the strays," said chairman of animal welfare committee Diganta Saha.He added, "We also proposed that no person should be allowed to feed stray dogs and cats on JU premises. The authorities need to implement our proposals and then we will designate feeding zones on campus in our next meeting."Several teachers and students said such steps "completely go against the culture of empathy and co-existence which has marked the animal-human relationship on campus". The letter read, "It seems the committee wants the dogs to starve with a proposal to ban feeding almost everywhere on campus. No designated dog feeding zone has been indicated by the committee."JU has about 60 dogs on campus. "We held a drive to sterilise and vaccinate dogs on campus through crowdfunding," said a student. English professor Abhijit Gupta said, "We suggested sterilisation and vaccination of dogs in consultation with existing caregivers, so that duplication may be avoided. The sterilised and vaccinated dogs are to be returned to the campus and no one should be harassed for feeding dogs."An official said, "The university has not issued any notice banning feeding of strays on campus. We need to handle this issue with empathy in consultation with various stakeholders so that dog bites are prevented, and, at the same time, the human-animal relationship is not affected."