Date:09/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/09/stories/2007090952240300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Training in animal welfare mooted

Correspondent

Kakinada: The institute for imparting animal welfare training to different sections of the people, first of its kind in the country, is coming up here at a cost of Rs. 10 lakhs. It will impart training in animal welfare to different sections, including teachers, police personnel, forest officers, advocates, journalists and animal lovers.

Laying the foundation stone for the institute on the premises of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) at Ramanaiahpet here on Saturday, Zilla Parishad Chairman Ch. S. Venugopala Krishna stressed the need for inculcating love and affection towards animals among students particularly those studying eighth, ninth and tenth classes. Stating that one full page was devoted for creating awareness on animal welfare in the textbooks of classes’ eighth to tenth, he said 1.5 lakh copies were already published and supplied to students in this regard. SSRK Guruprasad, secretary and honorary animal welfare education officer of Animal Welfare Board, who presided over the function said the SPCA Kakinada was now a pioneer in spearheading the animal welfare movement and first to start an Institute for Imparting Animal Welfare Training. He said training would be imparted at the institute in animal handling, general animal care, euthanasia, zoonoses, animal welfare acts and animal birth control .

K. Nageswera Rao, Revenue Divisional Officer, said special attention should be paid towards animal welfare, as the animal population was dwindling. PSRK Thimmajirao, vice president, and Krishna Gopal Lunani, treasurer of the SPCA, also spoke.