‘Police Animal’ Rescue Center established in Punjab for the protection of animals

Lahore: In Punjab, the wildlife department has started joint measures with the police to protect wildlife while a rescue center has been opened for the animals.

After the Punjab Wildlife and the Anti-Cruelty to Animals, now the Punjab Police has also started working to prevent violence and cruelty to domestic, stray and wild animals in Punjab. Experts say that more effective results can be achieved by improving the coordination of government departments.

For the past few weeks, the Punjab Police has been engaged in operations against those who treat animals violently and cruelly. There is coordination with but no consultation with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to take action against violent and cruel abusers of pets and strays.

Prof Dr. Masood Rabbani, honorary secretary of the Institute for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, says that all the organizations and NGOs working to prevent animal cruelty are commendable. He said that the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) exists to take action against those who are violent and cruel to pets and stray animals.

Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1890, SPCA inspectors are empowered to take action against animal abusers. They have only 8 inspectors in Punjab. Despite this, SPCA has shown outstanding performance.

Performance data

According to SPCA data, during the year 2021-22, 3037 challans were issued in 17 districts of Punjab and the accused were fined Rs. A fine of two lakh 67 thousand 300 rupees was issued against 4 thousand 495 accused.

According to the report, from January 2022 to September 2023, 1084 injured animals were rescued, 30463 animals were vaccinated and 27757 animals were treated.

Deputy Director of Punjab Wildlife, Lahore Region, Tanveer Ahmed Janjua, told The Express Tribune that the FIRs that the police take or register so far include provisions of the Animal Cruelty, Cruelty and Wildlife Act. In such cases, the court has to decide whether to fine the accused, sentence to imprisonment or both.

He said that in the action taken by Punjab Wildlife itself, the accused are charged by the department and if the accused does not pay the fine, the case is sent to the court.

Additional Inspector General (Admin Security) Punjab Police Amara Athar says the Punjab Wildlife’s team of wild animal cases goes with the Police Animal Rescue Center (PARC) and does its legal work collaboratively. The wildlife department was facing problems due to lack of staff and less communication with the public so the park is also playing a major role in their facilitation and many wild animals have been rescued so far.

Amara Athar said that as far as other animals are concerned, the park and Punjab police have the legal authority to take action against animal cruelty.

Speaking to the Express Tribune, Izzat Fatima Advocate, a woman who fought legal battles in the courts for the rights and welfare of animals, said that the establishment of the Police Animal Rescue Center is commendable, the police are doing very well, but all this is happening at the request of the police chief. . This action needs to be given legal and constitutional status because if an accused challenges this action of the police in court, it will become a problem for the police.

He said that its regular gazette notification should be issued so that this work continues. Apart from this, instructions should be given to the police to take action wherever they see any mistreatment of animals and birds. Dolphin police also caught those selling the birds in the name of charity.

Izzat Fatima said that the cooperation between police, wildlife and livestock needs to be further improved.