In wake of NRS puppy incident, school students join hands to save stray animals

Kolkata: At a time when two nursing students had beaten 16 innocent puppies to death at the Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital campus, students from various schools have together to save stray animals and preserve forest in connection with the Animal Welfare Fortnight on January 31.

During the Animal Welfare Fortnight, which started on January 15, camps are being held in different schools to create awareness on welfare of animals and preservation of environment.

The students have drawn posters and placards based on animal welfare. The awareness campaigns in schools were conducted by an NGO. The spokesperson said school-going children should be trained to love animals and environment in order to stop abuse on stray and pet animals and abandonment of pets when they become old and infirm. In connection with the Animal Welfare Week, several camps to vaccinate and sterilise stray animals were held in Metiabruz, Behala, Shakuntala Park, Hastings and Batanagar. Camps were held for cattle and horses as well.

A spokesperson for Love and Care for Animals which is organizing the camps said loving and adopting stray animals is on the rise in the city and suburbs. "Many young people are adopting stray dogs and cats. They take the pets to the doctors and treat them. There are groups of young people almost in every locality which look after stray dogs," he added.