205 write to JU VC for dog feed zones, shelter revamp, vax funds

Kolkata: A letter, with 205 signatures from students, scholars and alumni of Jadavpur University, was on Tuesday handed to the vice-chancellor, demanding the demarcation of feeding zones for dogs on the campus, renovation of the existing shelter and allocation of funds for their vaccination and sterilisation.

“We handed the letter to the VC on Tuesday. The institute must ensure institutional funding to take care of the animals on the campus as they are an integral part of the JU ecology. At the same time, safety should be ensured for all members of the campus community, including persons with disabilities. There should be functional animal shelters on the campus. Animals should not be relocated,” said a student.

VC Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said, “We do not want any cruelty to dogs. But at the same time, there have been cases of dog bites and students with visual disabilities find it difficult while moving around if dogs lie in the way. So we will have to mitigate these problems in an empathetic way. I believe in the coexistence of dogs and humans. Hence, we will have feeding zones, where animal lovers can feed dogs. We will vaccinate and sterilise the campus dogs so that the population can be controlled. Apart from this, an initiative was taken to put collars on campus dogs to distinguish them from outside dogs.”