Say thank you to journalists who support animal welfare issues

Dear All

We have to work towards a better understanding about animal abuse/welfare issues together with the media. Sadly too often, the media likes to report about 'bad incidents' in a wrong & distorted context. We have to show journalists like Priya Menon from TOI, how much it helps the world of animal lovers to have someone within the media who takes the time & effort to report diligently about animal issues & help raising awareness & help spreading the word about animal abuse incidents and/or how wonderful animals can be if treated with love, respect & understanding.

Please join me in this action of gratitude & co-operation initiated by a thoughtful volunteer!

Courtesy: a thoughtful volunteer 

"In recent times, whenever there has been an act of cruelty to animals, the Times of India (mainly Priya Menon) has given the incident due coverage whereas several other papers have glossed over or totally ignored the incidents. When the dog show resulted in a dog's death, TOI covered it two days in a row (this rarely happens in media these days) and went so far as to call animal people and ask them to write in to keep the story alive.

When St.John's school killed 20 dogs last week - they rounded them up and stuffed them in gunny sacks, beat them black and blue and then injected them with poison while they were writhing in agony- only Priya covered this article. We need the media to cover these issues or we'll end up losing the battle the next time around as well.

Please write to priya.menon@timesgroup.com immediately and thank her for covering the issue: please mention that TOI was the only paper that bothered to take a compassionate stand - the email goes to her editor automatically and he/she will help us the next time we need coverage. All other papers have ignored the killings. This is going to set a bad precedent and the next thing we know, every dog in this city will face the same risk.

Please take 2 min to do this and try and tell everyone in your circle to write to Priya as well. Please ensure that between us, we manager to send at least 100 letters by tomorrow congratulating them for ethical journalism." 
Thanks:-)! 
 
Over a dozen stray dogs killed at school

Priya M Menon | TNN
Chennai: More than a dozen stray dogs were brutally killed on the grounds of St Johns International Residential School, on the outskirts of Chennai, last week. The incident has shocked animal welfare activists who are demanding action against the culprits.
The dogs were beaten and then injected with poison, says Chinny Krishna, chairman, Blue Cross of India, who was received an anonymous tip. We contacted the school and they assured us that the killing would be stopped but by then about 28 dogs had been killed.
School authorities, while admitting to the massacre, blame the incident on general manager V Christo Packiadurai. There were instances of dogs biting children and parents were concerned, says Professor Chelliah , principal of St Johns International . But before we could think of a safe method of removing the dogs, Christo took action. The grounds of the school houses two institutions St Johns International and St Johns Academy. About 1,000 students live on campus in an area outside the city limits on National Highway 7. According to Chelliah, dog catchers from the local panchayat were summoned without the knowledge of the management. There were no senior staff on campus as it was a Sunday. Christo had gone to church, says Chelliah.
I rushed to the school when I got to know of the killings. I did not think the dogs would be killed. I thought the animals would be caught and released elsewhere, says Christo, who was terminated from service on January 15. Eighteen dogs were killed and I accept moral responsibility for it. In a letter to the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), he apologised for the incident saying it happened purely out of my ignorance and lack of knowledge .
Reports as to how the dogs were killed vary. According to Christo, 18 dogs were rounded up by two dog catchers with gunny bags and injected with poison , all within two hours. It is impossible for even an experienced dog catcher to catch so many dogs; the animals were definitely beaten, says Krishna.
The incident has enraged animal welfare activists. Its a crime and swift action needs to be taken, says New Delhi-based animal welfare worker Madhu Goyal. Though AWBI has issued a legal notice, an FIR has to be lodged for the law to take its course. We will be prosecuting the parties concerned under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules 2001, says Krishna.
priya.menon@timesgroup .com