-including the decorated ones -when they are no longer fit to carry out their rigorous duty?
Indian Army spokesperson says only animals suffering from terminal and incurable diseases are euthanised.
“The army has stopped euthanising (mercy-killing) the animals after the government sanction in 2015,” said Col. Aman Anand, spokesperson of the Indian Army.
“Only animals suffering from terminal and incurable diseases are being euthanise, the number of which is very low,” Anand clarifie.
The Indian Army, however, rejected this argument.
Anand said that aging dogs are take care of by the Indian Army’s retirement homes meant for its animals.
“The Indian Army sends the retired animals to old-age homes it maintains in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (for dogs),
and Hempur in Uttarakhand (for horses)”, Anand added.
What happens to Indian Army dogs ? They are euthanized, says an RTI reply.
The RTI query sought details about the method of disposal of animals, including dogs, in the Army .
The reply: “Army horses and dogs are evaluate for their fitness with respect to the performance of duties.
The animals which are considere unfit for one month active service are dispose of by humane euthanasia.”
After being traine at places including Remount Veterinary Corps, Meerut, and National Training Centre for Dogs and Animals, Chandigarh, they are absorbe into the Army .
“Each dog specialises in a particular field,” said Major General Kharb (Retd),
who is also the chairman of Animal Welfare Board of India.
“Dogs are use for infantry patrol, tracking, explosive detection, guarding bases, and casualty detection in times of disaster.”
A retired official, on conditions of anonymity , said the Army puts to sleep dogs deemed unable to keep up with
the rigour of their duty , even if they have a few years of life ahead.
The Army generally uses Labradors, German Shep herds and Belgian Shepherds, depending on the altitudes and weather, besides the nature of the assignment, that may include routine patrol to explosive detection.
“It is a normal practice to euthanize dogs when they are find to be unfit to perform the assigned duty ,” the retired official said.
But why not rehabilitate the dogs after they retire? The official cites another reason, security concerns.
“Since they are familiar with the base location, it will not be good if they end up in civilian hands,” he said.
Kharb disagrees with this argument, but says euthanasia is resorte to mainly because if the retired dogs were rehabilitate with NGOs and animal welfare organizations,
they would not be able to maintain these dogs with the kind of facilities the Indian Army provided them.
Kharb said according to Prevention of Cruelty to Animal Act, ordinary dogs
can be euthanise only in rare cases, like if they suffer from an incurable disease.
“But euthanasia of unfit Army dogs is a policy decision of the Union government,” he said.
Animal rights activists are angry . “Army can’t play god,” said Blue Cross of India general manager Dawn Williams.
“The retired dogs just need food and shelter. Out of the huge funds it gets every year, the Army can easily rehabilitate its retired dogs.
While serving the nation, dogs are indispensable, and as soon as they become old or unfit for service, the Army washes its hand of them. This is deplorable,” Williams said.
PETA India CEO Poorva P Joshipura said, “Animals cannot be tosse away like empty ammunition shells. It is unfortunate that the dogs are euthanise.”