A stray dog ​​was poisoned to death with cyanide while another was badly beaten, according to animal rights activists. Both incidents happened in Richards Town, East Bengaluru, in the second week of January.

The attacks have shocked locals as well as animal rights activists, but it is unclear who is behind them. Strays Matter, an animal welfare group, lodged a complaint about the matter at Pulakeshinagar Jurisdictional Police Station.

Local residents Sunita Vaznaik and Arjun Vaznaik found Cookie, about one and a half years old, convulsing and foaming at the mouth. They rushed him to Hebbal Government Veterinary Hospital where the dog eventually died. An autopsy showed he was poisoned with hydrocyanic acid (cyanide).

The second stray, named Sugar, was beaten so badly that his leg broke. Residents took him to the vets and cared for him until his injuries healed. The dog usually hung around an ATM guard in Clarke Road.

Animal rights activists say some residents of Richards Town see stray dogs as a threat despite the dogs being neither aggressive nor annoying. They suspect it is these sensitive residents who are behind the vicious attacks.

Sunita Vaznaik said Stray Matters volunteers ensure that every dog ​​in Richard Town is well fed and spayed in time so they don’t bother residents or become aggressive.

“Nevertheless, there is still a lot of hostility towards these animals. The demographics of Richards Town have changed over the years. There are also groups of young people who come on the weekends, create chaos and throw stones at the dogs,” Sunita said. DH.

Campaigners say a number of street dogs and cats have died in and around Richard Town in various incidents in recent times.

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