New Delhi: In a huge relief to animal welfare organisations and volunteers involved in feeding stray dogs, the Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the interim stay on the operation of the Delhi high court order relating to the feeding of stray dogs and also stayed the same. The Supreme Court disposed of the petition filed by the Humane Foundation for People and Animals challenging the Delhi high court order of June 26, 2021, wherein certain guidelines and directions regarding the feeding of stray dogs were passed, and vacated the interim stay granted earlier in the petition by the top court order dated March 4, 2022. Several impleaders were before the court on Thursday pointing out how the stay order had created a hostile environment for the dogs and led to many instances of harassment of volunteers of animal welfare organisations and feeders. Senior advocates Aman Lekhi and Anand Grover appeared for intervenors Friendicoes SECA, who had also moved an application for impleadment and was represented by Ritin Rai, senior advocate instructed by Karanjawala and Co.The Delhi high court order dated June 24, 2021, dealt with directions on the feeding of stray dogs. The petition was filed by the Humane Foundation for People and Animals, a not-for-profit organisation whose main goal is the resolution of the human-animal conflict in society.According to the petition, the Delhi high court had passed the directions/guidelines for feeding stray dogs with reference to ‘The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001’ and ‘The Prevention of cruelty to Animals Act, 1960’ despite there being an order passed by the Supreme Court vide order dated 18/11/2015 directing the "high courts not to pass any order relating to the 1960 Act and the 2001 Rules pertaining to dogs."The Delhi high court had opined that there is a need to spread awareness that even animals have a right to live with respect and dignity and said that "street dogs have the right to food and citizens have the right to feed community dogs but in exercising this right, care and caution should be taken to ensure that it does not impinge upon the rights of others or cause any harm."Feeding of community dogs have to be done at areas designated by the Animal Welfare Board of India in consultation with resident welfare associations or the municipal corporation and while determining the designated area, the AWBI and RWA/municipal corporations has to be conscious of the fact that every community dog is a territorial being and therefore, community dogs must be fed and tended to at places within their territory, the high court had further directed.It shall be the duty and obligation of every resident welfare associations or municipal corporation to ensure that every community dog in every area has access to food and water in the absence of caregivers or community dog feeders in the said area.The Delhi high court had asked AWBI to carry out an awareness campaign in association with various newspapers, television, radio channels and social media platforms. It had also said that AWBI shall also ensure these guidelines are disseminated through the media and AWBI shall circulate these guidelines to various resident welfare associations, the police department, municipal authorities etc. The court had also issued various guidelines including all law enforcement authorities shall ensure that no harassment or hindrance is caused to the person feeding the street dog at the designated feeding spot and to properly implement the AWBI revised guidelines on pet dogs and street dogs dated February 26, 2015.—ANI

In a huge relief to animal welfare organisations and volunteers involved in feeding stray dogs, the Supreme Court on Thursday lifted the interim stay on the operation of the Delhi high court order relating to the feeding of stray dogs and also stayed the same.

Animal lovers relieved as SC lifts stay on HC order on feeding stray dogs

Budapest (Hungary): Researchers from the Family Dog Project (Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest) found out in a recent study that dogs have a "multi-modal mental image" of their familiar objects. This means that when thinking about an object, dogs imagine the object's different sensory features. For instance, the way it looks or the way its smells. The findings of the study were published in journal of Animal Cognition.The group of scientists assumed that the senses dogs use to identify objects, such as their toys, reflect the way the objects are represented in their minds. "If we can understand which senses dogs use while searching for a toy, this may reveal how they think about it" explains Shany Dror, one of the leading researchers of this study. "When dogs use olfaction or sight while searching for a toy, this indicates that they know how that toy smells or looks like".In previous studies, the researchers discovered that only a few uniquely gifted dogs can learn the names of objects. "These Gifted Word Learner dogs give us a glimpse into their minds, and we can discover what they think about when we ask them - Where is your Teddy Bear? -" explains Dr. Andrea Sommese, the second leading researcher.In the first experiment, they trained 3 Gifted Word Learner dogs and 10 typical family dogs (i.e., dogs that do not know the name of toys), to fetch a toy associated with a reward. During the training, dogs received treats and were praised for choosing this toy over a few distractor toys.The researchers then observed how the dogs searched for the targeted toy, always placed among 4 others, both when the lights were on and off. All dogs successfully selected the trained toys, both in the light and in the dark. However, it took them longer to find the toys in the dark. Only the Gifted Word Learner dogs participated in the second experiment. Here, the researchers aimed to find out what these dogs think about when they hear the name of their toys."Revealing the senses used by the dogs to search for the named toys gave us the possibility to infer what these dogs imagine when they hear, for example, Teddy Bear explains Dr. Claudia Fugazza, co-author of the study. The Gifted dogs were successful in selecting the toys named by their owners in the light and the dark. This reveals that, when they hear the name of a toy, they recall this object's different sensory features and they can use this "multisensory mental image" to identify it, also in the dark."Dogs have a good sense of smell, but we found that dogs preferred to rely on vision and used their noses only a few times, and almost only when the lights were off" clarifies Prof. Adam Miklosi, head of the Department of Ethology at ELTE University and co-author of the study. "Dogs sniffed more often and for longer in the dark. They spent 90% more time sniffing when the lights were off, but this was still only 20% of the searching time".To conclude, the dogs' success in finding the toys and the different senses used while searching in the light and the dark reveals that, when dogs play with a toy, even just briefly, they pay attention to its different features and register the information using multiple senses.&nbsp;—ANI

 Researchers from the Family Dog Project (Eotvos Lorand University, Budapest) found out in a recent study that dogs have a "multi-modal mental image" of their familiar objects.

Do You Know What Your Dogs Think Of Toys? Scientists Are Here With The New Study

Washington: According to a new study by an international group of geneticists and archaeologists of the Francis Crick Institute, have discovered that the ancestry of dogs can be traced to at least two populations of ancient wolves. The study revealed the answer to the most asked questions about human prehistory by stepping closer to uncovering the mystery of where dogs underwent domestication.The findings of the study were published in the journal Nature.Dogs are known to have originated from the gray wolf, with this domestication occurring during the Ice Age, at least 15,000 years ago. But where this happened, and if it occurred in one single location or in multiple places, is still unknown.Previous studies using the archaeological record and comparing the DNA of dogs and modern wolves have not found the answer.In their study, the researchers turned to ancient wolf genomes to further understanding of where the first dogs evolved from wolves. They analysed 72 ancient wolf genomes, spanning the last 100,000 years, from Europe, Siberia and North America.The remains came from previously excavated ancient wolves, with archaeologists from 38 institutions in 16 different countries contributing to the study. The remains included a full, perfectly preserved head from a Siberian wolf that lived 32,000 years ago. Nine different ancient DNA labs then collaborated on generating DNA sequence data from the wolves.By analysing the genomes, the researchers found that both early and modern dogs are more genetically similar to ancient wolves in Asia than those in Europe, suggesting a domestication somewhere in the east.However, they also found evidence that two separate populations of wolves contributed DNA to dogs. Early dogs from north-eastern Europe, Siberia and the Americas appear to have a single, shared origin from the eastern source. But early dogs from the Middle East, Africa and southern Europe appear to have some ancestry from another source related to wolves in the Middle East, in addition to the eastern source.&nbsp;One possible explanation for this dual ancestry is that wolves underwent domestication more than once, with the different populations then mixing together. Another possibility is that domestication happened only once, and that the dual ancestry is due to these early dogs then mixing with wild wolves. It is not currently possible to determine which of these two scenarios occurred.Anders Bergstrom, co-first author and post-doctoral researcher in the Ancient Genomics lab at the Crick, says: "Through this project we have greatly increased the number of sequenced ancient wolf genomes, allowing us to create a detailed picture of wolf ancestry over time, including around the time of dog origins.""By trying to place the dog piece into this picture, we found that dogs derive ancestry from at least two separate wolf populations - an eastern source that contributed to all dogs and a separate more westerly source, that contributed to some dogs." The team are continuing the hunt for a close ancient wolf ancestor of dogs, which could reveal more precisely where domestication most likely took place. They are now focusing on genomes from other locations not included in this study, including more southerly regions.As the 72 ancient wolf genomes spanned around 30,000 generations, it was possible to look back and build a timeline of how wolf DNA has changed, tracing natural selection in action.For example, they observed that over a period of around 10,000 years, one gene variant went from being very rare to being present in every wolf, and is still present in all wolves and dogs today. The variant affects a gene, IFT88, which is involved in the development of bones in the skull and jaw. It is possible that the spread of this variant could have been driven by a change in the types of prey available during the Ice Age, giving an advantage to wolves with a certain head shape, but the gene could also have other unknown functions in wolves.Pontus Skoglund, senior author and group leader of the Ancient Genomics lab at the Crick, says: "This is the first time scientists have directly tracked natural selection in a large animal over a time-scale of 100,000 years, seeing evolution play out in real time rather than trying to reconstruct it from DNA today.""We found several cases where mutations spread to the whole wolf species, which was possible because the species was highly connected over large distances. This connectivity is perhaps a reason why wolves managed to survive the Ice Age while many other large carnivores vanished.""Similar whole-genome time series from the Ice Age, in humans or other animals, could provide new information about how evolution happens."&nbsp;—ANI

According to a new study by an international group of geneticists and archaeologists of the Francis Crick Institute, have discovered that the ancestry of dogs can be traced to at least two populations of ancient wolves. 

Dogs Trace Ancestry To Two Separate Wolf Populations, Study Reveals

Washington: According to a recent study, a group of researchers discovered the sleep of the dog's wild counterpart, the wolf for the first time.The findings of the research by the Department of Ethology from Eotvos Lorand University, Hungary were published in the Scientific Reports.In the study, fully non-invasive EEG measurements were applied; a harmless procedure, attaching electrodes on the surface of the skin, similarly to human sleep EEG methods.The increasing interest in canine sleep research stems from its advantages to study the sleep of a domesticated species adapted to the human environment. Evolutionary adaptations to environmental circumstances - such as sleeping in a protected environment - could have shaped humans' sleep. Thus, similar changes might be expected in the sleep of other species adapted to the human environment. For example, dogs, similarly to humans, sleep more superficially in an unfamiliar environment.To gain a better understanding of the effects of domestication and cohabitation with humans on sleep phenotypes and physiology, comparing the dog to its wild counterpart, the wolf, offers a unique opportunity."Although dog-wolf comparative studies have already been conducted in several areas of research, including behavioural and genetic studies, the neural processes of wolves remain a largely unexplored field" said Anna Balint, researcher at the MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group. "We measured the sleep EEG of seven hand raised, extensively socialised wolves, using the same methodology as has been applied in family dogs. We successfully measured all sleep stages (drowsiness, deep sleep, and REM) that were previously observed in dogs as well."It may seem surprising that wolves can be measured by EEG the same way as our good old family pets, the dogs. However, by hand-raising and intensely socializing wolves from a very early age, they can be handled and comforted in much the same way as dogs. Wolves were surrounded by familiar people during the experiments, petting, caressing them until they calmed down, dozed off and eventually fell asleep. Whenever the wolves became aroused, the caretaker and experimenter calmed the wolves by praising and cuddling them until they settled again."While young dogs and wolves showed a pretty similar distribution of sleep stages, the time spent in REM seemed to be less in dogs than in wolves, and this difference is even more apparent in the senior animals", describes the results the first author of the publication, Vivien Reicher, PhD student at the Ethology Department of ELTE. "This finding is especially intriguing since the amount of REM sleep has been linked to various different effects including neurodevelopment, stress, domestication, but also memory consolidation", explains Reicher further."Although the sample size in the current study is low and the age distribution of the subjects is too skewed to draw comparative conclusions, it can be considered an important first step in collecting adequate amount of data to properly describe the wolf's sleep" said Marta Gacsi, leader of this project, senior researcher at the MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group. "Thus, we suggest that using our reliable, easily applicable methodology in different labs may form the basis of an international, multi-site collection of similar samples, allowing for generalizable scientific conclusions."&nbsp;—ANI

According to a recent study, a group of researchers discovered the sleep of the dog's wild counterpart, the wolf for the first time.

Do You Know Wolves Sleep Like Dogs? Researcher Reveals

Washington: The first documentation that dogs' sense of smell is integrated with their vision and other unique parts of the brain has been provided by Cornell University researchers. It sheds new light on how dogs experience and navigate the world.The findings by the researchers were published in the journal JNeurosci"We've never seen this connection between the nose and the occipital lobe, functionally the visual cortex in dogs, in any species," said Pip Johnson, assistant professor of clinical sciences and senior author of 'Extensive Connections of the Canine Olfactory Pathway Revealed by Tractography and Dissection'."When we walk into a room, we primarily use our vision to work out where the door is, who's in the room, where the table is," she said. "Whereas in dogs, this study shows that olfaction is really integrated with vision in terms of how they learn about their environment and orient themselves in it."Johnson and her team found connections where the brain processes memory and emotion, which are similar to those in humans, as well as never-documented connections to the spinal cord and the occipital lobe that are not found in humans.The research corroborates her clinical experiences with blind dogs, who function remarkably well. "They can still play fetch and navigate their surroundings much better than humans with the same condition," Johnson said. "Knowing there's that information freeway going between those two areas could be hugely comforting to owners of dogs with incurable eye diseases."Identifying new connections in the brain also opens up new lines of questioning. "To see this variation in the brain allows us to see what's possible in the mammalian brain and to wonder - maybe we have a vestigial connection between those two areas from when we were more ape-like and scent-oriented, or maybe other species have significant variations that we haven't explored," Johnson said.&nbsp;—ANI

The first documentation that dogs' sense of smell is integrated with their vision and other unique parts of the brain has been provided by Cornell University researchers. It sheds new light on how dogs experience and navigate the world.

Researchers Find Dogs' Sense Of Smell Is Linked To Vision

Bristol: Recent studies have linked germs that are resistant to vitally needed antibiotics to the feeding of raw meat to pet dogs.The findings of the research were published in the 'Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy'.Two studies led by a team at the University of Bristol have found dogs who are fed on a diet of raw meat were more likely to excrete antibiotic-resistant bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) in their faeces.Previous research has shown that there is the potential for bacteria to be shared between dogs and their human owners through everyday interaction, leading the researchers to suggest that raw feeding is not the safest dietary choice, and that, if chosen, owners should take extra precautions when handling raw meat and be especially careful to clean up after their dog.The study investigated adult dogs and found links between dogs eating raw meat and excreting resistant E. coli. The research supports a recent study by the team, published in the journal One Health, which looked at 16-week-old puppies.Both studies, which used data from different dogs, demonstrate that dogs may excrete resistant bacteria regardless of their age or the length of time they are fed a raw meat diet.The environment a dog lives in also played a part in the potential for them to excrete resistant bacteria. Raw feeding was a strong risk factor for dogs living in the countryside, while in city-dwelling dogs, risk factors were much more complicated, probably reflecting the variety of lifestyles and exposures among city dogs.The two studies recruited a total of 823 dogs and their owners (223 puppies in the first study and 600 adult dogs in the second study). Owners completed questionnaires about their dogs, the dogs' diets and environment, and provided faecal samples from their dogs.The samples were then analysed for the presence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli and risk factor analyses were conducted to explore the associations between lifestyle factors, environments reported in the owner survey and the detection of resistant E. coli.Matthew Avison, Professor of Molecular Bacteriology from the School of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, who led the microbiology aspects of these studies, said, "Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are everywhere, but some antibiotics are considered critically important for use in humans. We have shown that dogs fed raw meat are more likely to carry bacteria resistant to these important medicines. This doesn't mean that the animal, or the owner, will become sick.""E. coli is a widespread bacterium that is found in the intestines of all humans and animals, however, it is a common cause of many diseases including urinary tract infection and can cause serious illnesses including sepsis if it spreads to other parts of the body.""We should do everything we can to reduce the circulation of critically important antibiotic-resistant E. coli and other bacteria. Our research adds to the increasing evidence that not feeding raw meat to dogs may help in that objective.""We know humans and animals share bacteria with one another, so what we find in your pet may well also be in you. Pet owners should be encouraged to practice good hygiene and not feeding raw food to your dog can be part of this," added Kristen Reyher, Professor of Veterinary Epidemiology and Population Health at the Bristol Veterinary School and co-author of both papers."We can all do our part to decrease antibiotic resistance and its terrible effects on both human and animal health." —ANI

Recent studies have linked germs that are resistant to vitally needed antibiotics to the feeding of raw meat to pet dogs.

Feeding Dogs Raw Meat Linked To Increased Prevalence Of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria

Bagalkot (Karnataka):  Mudhol hounds, Karnataka’s breed of indigenous dogs, have joined the Special Protection Group (SPG) squad which provides security cover to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said on Thursday.
A team of SPG comprising two doctors and soldiers had visited the Canine Research and Information Center, (Mudhol hound), Timmapur, (CRIC) and taken two male puppies from there on April 25. Mudhol hounds are the first ‘desi’ (indigenous) breed in PM Modi’s SPG squad.
The development came to light lately. Sources said that Dr B.N. Panchabuddhe and the trainers team had contacted Bagalkot district administration and Superintendent of Police office from New Delhi after which the process was facilitated, sources said.
The two two-month-old puppies have already started training. First they will undergo four months of training and later rigorous coaching will be given, sources stated.
Considering the sensitivity of the matter, the authorities had remained tight-lipped about it. PM Modi had discussed Karnataka’s Mudhol Hound breed of canines, which have international reputation and recognition for their predatory skills as well as looks. He had stated that if this breed is reared at home there would be encouragement to Indian breed and it is necessary for building atmanirbharta and self-reliant India.
The PM’s security team chose Mudhol hounds after considering Rajapalayam dog breed from Tamil Nadu and Rampur greyhound from Uttar Pradesh.
Mudhol hound dogs have been used by predators since the times of kings. Lean and tall structured and tiny heads are the special character of this breed. Predators preferred this breed for its capacity to run long distances without getting tired and special sniffing capacity.
These dogs grow up to 72 centimeters and weigh between 20 to 22 kilograms.&nbsp;
—IANS

Mudhol hounds, Karnataka’s breed of indigenous dogs, have joined the Special Protection Group (SPG) squad which provides security cover to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sources said on Thursday.

 K'taka's Mudhol hounds join SPG squad for PM's protection

Noida (The Hawk): In Noida, a 1-year-old child was killed by stray dogs after being mauled, according to the police.
The incident happened on Monday night at Sector 100's Lotus Boulevard Society, according to the police.
According to the authorities, Sapna and Rajesh Kumar, the toddler's parents, were employed at a road construction site.
The dogs attacked Sapna as he moved away from the young child who was playing with his sibling.
The police said, "Sapna and a few others hurried the toddler to the hospital where he succumbed to his injuries after the victim's brother raised an alert."
Attacks by stray dogs are happening more frequently.
Local neighbours claim that when authorities removed the stray animals for sterilisation and released them back into society, the issue grew worse.
(Inputs from Agencies)

In Noida, a 1-year-old child was killed by stray dogs after being mauled, according to the police. The incident happened on Monday night at Sector 100's Lotus Boulevard Society, according to the police.

Noida stray dogs kill toddler

Chennai (The Hawk): The panchayat president of Sankaralingapuram in Tamil Nadu and her husband have been detained by police in Virudhunagar for allegedly killing stray dogs.
An animal activist complained to the Amatur police that over 50 stray dogs in the region had been slaughtered and buried, and the police then opened an investigation.
People For Animals (PFA), an animal rights group started by Maneka Gandhi, member Sunitha reported to the police that 50 dogs had been slain and buried. Speaking to the media, she stated, "I called the panchayat president Nagalakshmi and her husband Meenachi Sundaram as soon as I received information that the dogs had been slain by them. Sundaram acknowledged that the dogs were slain.
The Panchayat President and her husband were the targets of a FIR filed by the Amatur police after 30 dog carcasses were discovered in a severely decomposed state. IANS was informed by animal rights advocates that the dogs were killed by beating after being caught with iron hooks.
According to police, the couple was arrested for violating the 1960 Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. According to representatives of the Amatur police station, most of the carcasses could not have undergone necropsies due to their extremely decomposed state, but on a few, it was done and revealed that the dogs had been beaten to death.
According to a preliminary inquiry, the couple chose to murder the dogs in response to complaints made by the townspeople.
(Inputs from Agencies)

The panchayat president of Sankaralingapuram in Tamil Nadu and her husband have been detained by police in Virudhunagar for allegedly killing stray dogs.

The killing of stray dogs: TN police file charges against the panchayat president and her husband

Patna (The Hawk): On Wednesday, a woman in the Begusarai district of Bihar was killed by a pack of stray "maneater" dogs, which sparked fear throughout the area.
Mira Devi, 53, the wife of Raj Kumar Sharma, a local of Begusarai's ward number 11 of Bachwara police station, was identified as the deceased.
According to her husband, she went to a farm to take care of the crops and was on her way home when she was attacked by a pack of 15 stray dogs.
Even her flesh was eaten by the dogs because her hands and legs lacked flesh.
"We went there when she didn't come home and discovered a group of stray dogs lying on a dead body. I sounded the alarm, and the villagers quickly gathered there in great numbers. The dogs were chased out of the area by us. But my wife had already passed away and her body had been discovered in terrible shape "explained Sharma.
A group of stray dogs in the area has killed at least one person and injured 17 others in the past year.
(Inputs from Agencies)

On Wednesday, a woman in the Begusarai district of Bihar was killed by a pack of stray "maneater" dogs, which sparked fear throughout the area.

In Bihar's Begusarai, "maneater" dogs kill a woman and consume her body

Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh (The Hawk): At a private guest house in the Chhatnag area of Prayagraj, stray dogs killed 21 spotted deer and one chinkara by mauling them.
The incident occurred earlier this week, but the officials kept it under wraps for two days, examined the dead deer, and only made a statement once the media knew of it.
The private company responsible for caring for the deer has been accused of violating the Wildlife Protection Act.
On the 70-acre guest home on the banks of the Ganga, deer were being raised.
According to reports, Universal Cable Company Limited received authorization to raise deer on the private land in 1988. The company was granted full authority to take care of the deer.
The forest department officials have detained three people, including the security guard and the deer keeper, for questioning. A thorough investigation has also been ordered.
Investigations also turned up two tiny drain hole locations on the campus that provided the stray canines with an appropriate entrance. The possibility that the dogs may have scaled the border wall was also considered.
Three individuals, including security officer Awadhesh Kumar, deer keeper Lal Chandra Yadav, and security guard Jung Bahadur, have been detained by the forest department for questioning, according to Prayagraj district forest officer Mahaveer Kaujalgi.
The forest department has filed a lawsuit under section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act against four people, including the management of the guest house, the security officer, the deer keeper, and a security guard employed by a private company.
According to Kaujalgi, a notification has also been delivered to the Universal Cable Company Ltd. officials, who were given full authority to take care of the deer.
"We are examining the security measures in place on and around the campus, as well as the region's access to the CCTV network. The district police authority and the forest department are working together on the investigation, "DFO stated.
(Inputs from Agencies)

At a private guest house in the Chhatnag area of Prayagraj, stray dogs killed 21 spotted deer and one chinkara by mauling them. The incident occurred earlier this week, but the officials kept it under wraps for two days, examined the dead deer, and only made a statement once the media knew of it.

UP's Prayagraj stray dogs killed 21 deer and one chinkara

Hyderabad: In a shocking incident, a four-year-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs in Hyderabad.
CCTV footage of the horrific incident that occurred on Sunday in Bagh Amberpet area of the city emerged on Tuesday.
The boy, Pradeep, died before his father took him to a nearby hospital. The heart-wrenching incident occurred in a car servicing centre where the boy's father Gangadhar was working as watchman.
Sunday being a holiday, Gangadhar had taken his wife, six-year-old daughter and son Pradeep to show them his place of work. After leaving his wife and daughter in a cabin in the parking area, Gangadhar took his son into the service centre.
When Gangadhar left with another watchman to some other area for some work, Pradeep started walking towards the parking area to play with his sister. Suddenly a pack of stray dogs attacked him. When the child fell down, they all pounced on him and bit him all over.
Hearing the cries of her brother, the girl rushed there and ran out to call his father. Gangadhar chased away the dogs and took the badly injured son to a hospital but by then he had succumbed.
According to police, Gangadhar had migrated to Hyderabad from Nizamabad four years ago for livelihood and had started working as a watchman in the service centrein Amberpet area. The family was living in a colony in the same area. This is the second such incident in Hyderabad in less than a year. In April, 2022, stray dogs mauled to death a two-year-old boy in Bada Bazar area of Golconda.
Anas Ahmed, who was playing near his house, was attacked by a pack of dogs. They dragged him to the adjoining military area.
The toddler had sustained grievous injuries and died before he could be taken to hospital.
Disturbing CCTV visuals of the hapless child being attacked and dragged by dogs had emerged, triggering public outrage.
—IANS

 In a shocking incident, a four-year-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs in Hyderabad.

4-Year-Old Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The city of Hyderabad, India, has 5.50 lakh stray dogs, according to government figures released on Wednesday, a day after CCTV footage of a 4-year-old kid being mauled to death by a pack of dogs went viral.
As the horrific visuals triggered public outrage, municipal authorities on Wednesday decided to take steps on war footing to check the menace of stray dogs.
Arvind Kumar, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's Special Chief Secretary for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, has ordered that the problem of stray dogs be dealt with urgently (GHMC).
He convened a meeting of GHMC zonal Commissioners and veterinary officers and ordered them to immediately begin developing a plan of action to combat the outbreak inside the boundaries of GHMC and other towns in the state.
Officials from the GHMC informed him that there are currently 5.50 lakh stray dogs in the GHMC region. They said that in 2011, their population was 8,50,000; however, due to sterilising efforts, that number has decreased.
The GHMC officers were given orders to quickly begin the ABC (Animal Birth Control) sterilising operations from Arvind Kumar.
The GHMC has ordered the local government to prevent garbage from being dumped on the streets by local hotels, restaurants, banquet halls, and poultry and mutton markets. Taking quick action to prevent this dumping of waste was mandated because of the potential rise in the number of stray canines in the city.
Students at both public and private schools in the city, he recommended, should be included in the awareness programmes. It was mandated that officials make brochures and billboards to raise public consciousness.
Slum Development Federations, Town Development Federations, and Resident Colony Welfare Associations were urged to assist local authorities in enforcing order in squalid areas around the city and its surrounding towns. The state's other towns will enlist the aid of self-help groups to implement similar control measures.
For the registration of pets in the city and its neighbouring municipalities, Arvind Kumar suggested the development of a separate smartphone app. Once registered, the appropriate owners will be issued identification cards. He said steps should be taken to file complaints through My GHMC App No. 040-21111111.
He recommended figuring out where the majority of reports are coming from so that measures might be done there right away. Authorities have been told to dispatch veterinary teams to the affected locations, where they can take the necessary steps to stop the spread, with particular focus on those places without convenient access to transportation.
It was reported on Sunday that a young boy, aged four, was killed by a pack of strays in the Bagh Amberpet neighbourhood of Hyderabad. Public outcry was sparked on Tuesday when CCTV footage of the tragic incident was released.
Pradeep, the youngster, passed away before his father could take him to a hospital.
The boy's father, Gangadhar, was working as a watchman at an auto service centre when the tragic event unfolded.
In less than a year, this is the second such occurrence to occur in Hyderabad. A young boy of two years old was killed by stray dogs in the Bada Bazar neighbourhood of Golconda in April 2022.—Inputs from Agencies

The city of Hyderabad, India, has 5.50 lakh stray dogs, according to government figures released on Wednesday, a day after CCTV footage of a 4-year-old kid being mauled to death by a pack of dogs went viral

 Hyderabad has 5.5 lakh stray dogs, officials move to check menace

New Delhi: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged China to share more data amid reports that the origin of Covid pandemic has been linked to racoon dogs from Wuhan wet market. According to the WHO, researchers affiliated to China's Center for Disease Control and Prevention last week uploaded sequences related to samples taken at the Huanan seafood market in Wuhan, in 2020 to Gisaid, the global genomic repository. While it was online, global scientists downloaded the data and analysed it and presented their findings to the WHO last weekend. In a yet to be published study, they showed that Covid pandemic may have originated in raccoon dogs, which is consistent with hypotheses about the virus spilling into humans from a wild animal. The findings were based on genetic data drawn from swabs taken from in and around the Huanan Market in January 2020. However, soon it was removed. While "these data do not provide a definitive answer to the question of how the pandemic began, but every piece of data is important in moving us closer to that answer," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said at a media briefing on Friday. "These data could have -- and should have -- been shared three years ago. "We continue to call on China to be transparent in sharing data, and to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results," the global health body chief said. Though important, the findings were far from definitive and that all origin hypotheses, including an accidental lab leak, remained on the table, WHO officials stressed at the briefing. Since the outbreak of coronavirus in early 2020, WHO and several countries have repeatedly criticised China for its reticence to release genetic material as well as for its overall public health response. The WHO experts, including the SAGO panel, have maintained that China is not cooperating with the Covid origin probe. China, on its part, has from the beginning protested that claims of a laboratory leak were just a 'conspiracy theory'. It has also claimed that the virus originated in the US. "We continue to call on China to be transparent in sharing data, and to conduct the necessary investigations and share the results," the WHO chief said. "Understanding how the pandemic began remains both a moral and scientific imperative," Ghebreyesus said, adding that it will help the world prepare "defences against future epidemics and pandemics". "We have a duty to ourselves to end this pandemic as soon as possible. We have a duty to those we have lost to find out how it started. And we have a duty to those who will follow us to make the world safer," he said. —IANS

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has urged China to share more data amid reports that the origin of Covid pandemic has been linked to racoon dogs from Wuhan wet market.

Covid Origin Linked To Raccoon Dogs: WHO Asks China To Share More Data

New Delhi: The days of leaving dogs at home with a pet sitter or skipping weddings are long gone. It's crucial to recognise the significance of pets in Indian weddings which are lavish affairs and cherished occasions to celebrate family and love. Our animal buddies, who are equally important family members, have been included in the concept of family in recent years.

It's time to start using the word "paw-parents" instead of "pet owners." More and more Indian couples are choosing pet-friendly weddings these days, making their children or furry pets an important part of their special day. In fact, when couples narrow down their ideal wedding site, the question "Is your wedding venue pet-friendly" has grown in importance. Pet-friendly weddings are not simply a fad; they are an emotional phenomenon. As a result, many wedding venues and suppliers are fast making the necessary change.

Rumela Sen, Editorial Lead, of WeddingWire India shares her views on pet-friendly weddings in India with IANSlife.

Why are pet-friendly weddings gaining popularity?

Rumela: Hold onto your hats, animal lovers! Furry and feathered friends or four-pawed kids are not just cute accessories in wedding photos; they're bona fide members of the couple's family and the wedding party! And it's no surprise, given that pets are increasingly being viewed as beloved family members. This familial bond can be backed by data such as how nearly 47% of pet parents in tier 2 and 3 cities spend between INR 1500-3000 per month on their pets (survey by Supertails.com). As per the India International Pet Trade Fair, the Indian pet market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20% between 2021 and 2026, reaching Rs 1.3 billion by 2026. The number of pet owners in India is also on the rise, with the Indian Pet Market report indicating that there are over 19 million pet dogs in the country alone.

How is the wedding industry catering to the trend?

Rumela: To cater to the growing demand for pet-friendly weddings, wedding planners and venues are now offering a range of services to accommodate pets. Many wedding venues have started offering pet-friendly accommodations, pet-friendly catering options, and even pet care services on-site. Wedding planners are also offering services such as pet grooming and pet transportation to ensure that pets are well taken care of on the big day in tier 1 cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, etc. One must also keep in mind that bringing their furry kids to the wedding might also mean compromising on a few common wedding elements or rituals in India or planning their pet's entry to the event accordingly. Most dogs for example are sensitive to dhol beats, loud music, and bursting crackers or pyros during various wedding ceremonies - wedding planners are more thoughtful about the elements that need to be added to pet-friendly weddings now. Replacing crackers with flower showers or planning "time-slots" for dhol walas are some easy ways to make the wedding event comfortable for your furry kids.

Who are the furry friends at weddings?

Rumela: The trend of pet-friendly weddings is not limited to just dogs. Cats, rabbits, and even parrots have also made appearances at pet-friendly weddings in India.

How is the trend beneficial for pets?

Rumela: As family members, your four-pawed kids or friends are much needed in your biggest celebration. Weddings are long events for families and can go on for 3-4 or more days with multiple guests at home and travel plans. For many pets, being separated from their owners can be stressful and anxiety-inducing. Including them in the wedding can help alleviate these feelings and make them feel more comfortable and of course, this is the best occasion to shower them with the love and attention they truly deserve.

More and more couples are opting to include their furry friends in their big day and venues are willing to accommodate to support their sentiment. With the pet industry expected to continue to grow in India, it's safe to say that pet-friendly weddings are here to stay. IANS

The rise of pet-friendly weddings in India

Aligarh: A middle-aged man was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs at Aligarh Muslim University premises on Sunday morning, police said.
According to the police, the deceased has been identified as Safdar Ali, a resident of the Civil Lines area of the city.
Aligarh SP City Kuldeep Singh Gunawat said, "Today around 7:30am police received information that a body was lying inside the university. In course of an investigation when nearby CCTV footage was scanned it was known that around 6:30 am the deceased was roaming in the park near Sir Syed House when a pack of 10 to 12 dogs attacked him. Probably causing his death." "The body has been sent for postmortem to know the exact cause of death. Peace and order is maintained on the spot and legal action is prevalent in it," the SP added.
On April 14, a similar kind of horrific incident was reported from Haryana's Karnal, where a Pitbull dog attacked a 30-year-old man and bit his private part leaving him seriously injured. According to the information, the victim was identified as Karan Sharma (30), a resident of Bijna village.
In the last couple of years, cases of dog menace have witnessed a major surge across the country.&nbsp;
—ANI

A middle-aged man was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs at Aligarh Muslim University premises on Sunday morning, police said.

Man Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Aligarh Muslim University

Hyderabad: In yet another shocking incident, an eight-year-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs in Telangana.

The incident occurred near Kazipet railway quarters in Hanamkonda district on Friday morning.

A pack of stray dogs pounced on the boy, who was sleeping alone under a tree. The hapless boy could not escape and died on the spot.

The victim was identified as Chotu, son of migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh. The family had arrived at Kazipet railway station on Thursday night and had slept at a nearby park. The boy's parents had gone to attend nature's call, leaving behind the child.

On their return, the parents were shocked to see the boy lying in a pool of blood. They took him to a hospital but he had already succumbed.

The parents were inconsolable. The family was on their way to Ajmer and had arrived at Kazipet on Thursday night.

Government chief whip Vinay Bhaskar and Mayor Gundu Sudha Rani visited the hospital and consoled the boy's parents.

Police shifted the body of Chotu to MGM Hospital for autopsy.

This is the latest in a series of such incidents in Telangana. At least four children have lost their lives and several others injured in stray dog attacks across the state during the last four months.

This is the second incident in Warangal district. A child had succumbed to his injuries sustained in an attack by stray dogs last month.

A four-year-old boy was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs in Hyderabad on February 19. The heart-wrenching incident had occurred in a car servicing centre where the boy's father was working as a watchman.

A five-year-old boy succumbed to rabies in Khammam district in March. He was bitten by stray dogs and later developed symptoms of rabies.

A series of such incidents across the state has shocked people. After February 19 incident in Hyderabad, municipal authorities had announced several measures to check the menace of stray dogs but citizens say the measures had no impact on the ground. IANS

In yet another shocking incident, an eight-year-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs in Telangana.

Stray dogs maul to death another child in Telangana

In yet another shocking incident, an eight-year-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs in Telangana.


Agra: In Agra, a group of stray dogs attacked two young children, killing a 3-year-old and injuring a 6-year-old girl.

The incident took place in Kumargarh village under the Doki police station limits.

"A three-year-old girl was attacked by stray dogs when she was playing in front of her house. She was dragged by the dogs to an open field outside the village," sub-inspector Ashok Kumar said.

The official also mentioned that the other young girl who tried to save the toddler had been attacked by the dogs, but managed to escape.

Police said the 3-year-old died from his wounds before residents could assemble to drive the dogs away.

"While the family is yet to lodge an official complaint, the other girl is undergoing treatment," said Kumar, who had accompanied assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Saurabh Singh to the village after the incident.

In a similar event on April 18, a retired doctor was killed by stray dogs while taking a walk on the Aligarh Muslim University campus.—Inputs from Agencies

In Agra, a group of stray dogs attacked two young children, killing a 3-year-old and injuring a 6-year-old girl

 3-yr-old toddler mauled to death by stray dogs in Agra

New Delhi: On Tuesday, the administration informed Congress that municipalities and firms are implementing animal birth control programmes for street dog management in a "unstructured" fashion, meaning they aren't adhering to any laws.
Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, the Ministry of Agriculture notified the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 on March 10. These rules replaced the ABC (Dogs) Rules of 2001.
During a written response to Lok Sabha, Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying Parshattom Rupala stated, "there is information that the muncipalities and corporations are conducting Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in an unstructured manner without following rules." Rupala said, "no, Sir," when asked if the government was aware of the gap between the claimed drop in animal bite incidents and the ground reality.—Inputs from Agencies

On Tuesday, the administration informed Congress that municipalities and firms are implementing animal birth control programmes for street dog management in a "unstructured" fashion, meaning they aren't adhering to any laws.

Municipalities, corporations implementing animal birth control prog to manage street dogs in unstructured way: Govt

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a swipe at the Centre saying that there was no need to hide the reality from the visiting dignitaries and guests amid the ongoing G20 Summit in the national capital.
In a post on X, he said: “Government of India is hiding our poor people and animals. There is no need to hide India’s reality from our guests.”
His remarks came after the Congress on Saturday shared on the micro-blogging platform a video of coolie camp, a slum in Delhi's Vasant Vihar, which has been hidden from the public view ahead of the G20 Summit.&nbsp;
“The government considers us insects. Are we not human? - Rani, a resident of Delhi, says this. Before G20, Modi government has covered their houses with curtains to hide its failure. Because the king hates the poor.”
On Friday, the Congress had shared another video claiming that the many street dogs were cruelly dragged by their necks and thrown into cages as Delhi got all decked up for hosting the international leaders.
On Friday night, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh claimed that India did not allow media to ask questions to US President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after their bilateral meeting.
"President Biden's team says despite multiple requests India has not allowed media to ask questions of him and Prime Minister Modi after their bilateral meeting. President Biden will now take questions in Vietnam on Sept 11th from the media accompanying him. Not surprising at all. This is how democracy is done Modi-style!" he tweeted.&nbsp;
—IANS

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday took a swipe at the Centre saying that there was no need to hide the reality from the visiting dignitaries

The Hawk

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