17 dogs dead in 2 months; ABC centre in Kochi comes under fire for gross negligence

Seventeen mother dogs and puppies died over two months at the Animal Birth Control Centre in Brahmapuram, Kochi, Ernakulam district. The centre, the only functional ABC facility in the district, is run by 12 staff including two veterinary surgeons, four dog‑catchers, two nursing assistants and four cleaners, and carries out about 150 sterilisation surgeries monthly. Antony Abhijith K R, founder of Society for Animal Rescue and Compassion, alleged that catchers illegally seized mother dogs and puppies from various parts of the city and kept them at the centre without adequate food, water or separate quarantine, breaching the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 which forbid holding such animals for surgery. He said, “The stray dogs caught with suspected rabry infection are also kept until they die in the cages there.” Antony has filed a complaint with Ernakulam Infopark police seeking a probe of the veterinary surgeons monitoring the centre. Dr Ambily T, who oversees the Brahmapuram centre, denied neglect, saying staff operate under limited facilities and are responding to frequent public complaints while trying to follow protocols.