The Tamil Nadu Animal Welfare Board (TNAWB) has shut down an unregistered pet shelter at Oragadam, Kancheepuram for maintaining over 100 animals in poor and unhygienic situations.
As many as 124 animals, comprising 115 canine and 9 cats, together with purebred canine, had been rescued throughout this operation and shifted to numerous recognised shelters for mandatory rehabilitation and care.
“Despite receiving a legal notice outlining recommendations for improvement and subsequent rejoinder notices, the shelter has failed to take any meaningful steps to address the dire situation faced by the animals. After careful consideration and numerous attempts to rectify the situation through legal channels, the Board has made the necessary decision to shut down the shelter, effective Wednesday, February 20, 2024,” the TNAWB stated in a launch, including that the situations during which canine and cats had been saved at ‘Guardian for Animals Shelter’ had been in clear violation of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Upon receiving 5 complaints, the Board in October 2023 inspected the centre and located faeces in urinals, unclean meals bowls and cages, and low meals inventory. Lots of the canine had appeared undernourished. Over the subsequent few months, the Board despatched round 800 kilograms of dry meals for the animals and requested the shelter to enhance its amenities.
In line with Shruti Vinod Raj, honorary member of TNAWB, the shelter’s situation continued to be pathetic and unsafe for the animals, most of which on February 21, 2024 had been discovered to be unhealthy and in want of medical interventions. “They [the shelter] did not have proper cold storage, there were worms in the cooking vessel. They did not maintain mortality records or breeding records. No information on where dogs were sent for adoption,” Ms. Raj stated. She added that animal rescuers and pet homeowners have to be cautious in selecting a recognised shelter.