Cattle owners demand action against SPCA, More than 300 rescued cattle and cows are in the SPCA

Kakinada: The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) has no adequate infrastructure facilities and the Kakinada Municipal Corporation (KMC) is adding to the problem by entrusting stray cows and cattle to SPCA. 

Whenever it rains, it becomes highly unhygienic and cow dung mixed with mud and water is spread all over the premises.  

A retired veterinary doctor, who is providing treatment to the cattle, is moving through the slush with great difficulty. The SPCA Charity Committee is mobilising feed and other requirements from Good Samaritans and organizations to help the animals.

'More than 300 rescued cattle and cows are in the SPCA. More sheds and infrastructure facilities are needed'' said committee representative M. Ramu.

He said that in the absence of an exclusive ground for stray cattle, KMC is sending them to SPCA. However, he said that during the rainy season, there is slush and mud, all around.

According to KMC officials, there was a big problem from cattle owners who leave their



cows on the roads after they get milk. Last year, the corporation donated stray cows and cattle to farmers in tribal areas.

Meanwhile, animal lovers and cattle owners have found-fault with KMC's action.

'Hundreds of cattle were captured in June last year and left in the wild on lorries making a mockery of the Prevention of Animal Cruelty Act-1960. Cattle owners suffered financially following the loss of valuable livestock. Now, KMC has moved our cattle to SPCA where rotten vegetables are being fed to them. Unhygienic surroundings have killed many of our animals,'' said a cattle owner Peethala Srinivas.

Many cattle owners submitted a memorandum to district collector Ch. Harikiran, seeking a probe against SPCA and legal action. Srinivas demanded compensation to cattle owners for the dead cattle.

He said that the Animal Welfare Board of India has informed state-level authorities that stray animals should not be kept in animal welfare societies under any circumstances, but the authorities are sacrificing their cattle without respecting the laws.