Date:07/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/07/stories/2006030718470200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Avoid keeping pets, constant travellers told

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: Animal welfare organisations have appealed to single persons, living alone, and with work demanding frequent travel or irregular hours, to avoid keeping pets.

If they must keep a pet, be it a dog, cat or even gold fish, they should leave it with an animal shelter, a certified kennel or at least a friend willing to take care of the creature.

Dog rescued

The Animal Rights Fund (ARF), Bangalore, recently rescued a dog left chained in a room for weeks at a time.

The dog apparently belonged to a software engineer in Koramangala.

He was not feeding the dog properly; he used to go out of town for 10 to 15 days at a time without making any arrangements to feed the dog, ARF activists said.

The dog was kept tied up in a small room with a chain. Seeing the pathetic condition of the dog, the neighbours complained to the ARF 24 hours help line last week.

The ARF people decided to adopt the dog and now the dog is happy in ARF shelter in Girinagar.

If anybody comes across such cases, they have been requested to inform or complain to ARF 24 hrs help line Krupa (22224541).

According to veterinarians, dogs more than other pets, need human company and affection. Even dogs which may be malnourished show no signs of bad health if they are cared for.