A brutal incident of animal cruelty has shocked the residents of Shahjahanpur in Uttar Pradesh, where a mother stray dog was allegedly stabbed to death near a local meat shop. The dog, who had recently given birth to six puppies, succumbed to her injuries on Friday evening, police confirmed on Saturday.
A Mother's Tragic End and a 200-Meter Struggle
According to police and local accounts, the female dog was attacked in the abdomen. Despite the grievous wound, she managed to drag herself for approximately 200 meters. Her destination was a makeshift shelter built specifically for her and her newborn puppies next to a resident's house. It was there that she finally collapsed and died. Her six puppies were found to be safe at the shelter.
Outrage, Accusations, and a Fleeing Butcher
The killing sparked immediate anger in the locality. Enraged residents attempted to confront the butcher operating the shop near the incident site, but he had already fled. Bhupendra Sharma, the local who had constructed the temporary shelter to protect the canine family from the cold, made a direct allegation. He claimed that meat trader Mohd Nasim, along with others, attacked the dog when she approached the shop, possibly in search of food.
Other eyewitnesses supported this narrative, stating that the butcher frequently hit the stray dog. They added that the dog often visited the shop to feed on leftover meat, even though she was regularly fed by compassionate residents in the area.
Legal Action and Limitations
Shahjahanpur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Rajesh Dwivedi informed that an FIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. However, he revealed a significant legal hurdle. The accused were preventively detained but later released. The sections imposed in this case carry a punishment of less than seven years, which, as per procedure, prevents immediate arrest. The police stated that the precise motive behind the stabbing is not yet clear.
The incident has highlighted ongoing tensions regarding stray animals and sparked a conversation about the implementation of animal protection laws in the region.
