Shillong, Jun 23: Around a dozen dogs have been poisoned in the Laban area of Shillong, leaving activists and dog lovers shattered.
Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said that a sample of suspected poisoned food has been collected and sent for testing.
The victims are not just dogs but cats and birds as well.
“We are looking at all angles to find out who perpetrated this poisoning of food and the motive behind it,” Syiem said.
Speaking to Highland Post, animal activist V Blah, who is also a pet groomer, said that, according to her information, around 12 dogs were poisoned near the Circuit House in Laban.
She said she came to learn about the incident on Sunday after some animal lovers informed her.
Blah said they were informed today that the bodies of two of the dead dogs had been carried away by municipal trucks, while two others were buried at the Circuit House since they belonged to the staff there. Another dog found today was in a bad state and was taken to a veterinary clinic for treatment. It is now under the care of one of her friends.
A violet-blue substance found mixed with rice at various places near the Circuit House is the poison, she suspects.
“We are trying to get the CCTV footage, but the Circuit House authorities have asked for written approval from higher authorities. We filed an FIR at Kenches Trace Beat House, Rilbong. We will also follow up with the Wildlife, Municipal and Animal Husbandry Departments,” Blah said.
When asked if she had any clue about the motive behind the act, she said there could be various reasons – perhaps by someone scared of dogs and trying to get rid of them, or possibly by someone seeking revenge after a dog bite. “It could be anyone,” she said.
When asked if there had been prior complaints of such cases in Laban, Blah said last year a group of persons beat a dog. They could not be identified because they were wearing helmets at the time.
She vowed to follow up the case even as she lamented the absence of shelter homes for strays.
