More than 40 cows were rescued by an animal welfare group, Birdhelpline, and the police after residents complained about the deplorable condition they were being kept in at a cowshed in Kamathipura. The cows were housed in a cramped 500 square metre area which doubled as garbage dumping ground for the locals.
About three to four cows have been diagnosed with tumour in their stomach and are undergoing treatment in hospital. The remaining cows too are undergoing medical investigation and will be treated according to the condition they are diagnosed with. Birdhelpline volunteers will admit the animals to nearby veterinary hospitals.
Harsh R. Shah, Founder, Birdhelpline, said, “When were reached there, the cows were in an unforgiveable condition. They were cramped in such a small place that they were in bodily contact with each other. They were eating and defecating in the same place.”
He said that the owner had tied the cows behind his house where there was no shade and rainwater had collected, giving rise to the possibility of dengue breeding. Residents said the cows had been living in such conditions for the past two years. “Even in the monsoons, he never used to cover up the area for protecting them from diseases. We have seen them getting drenched completely in the rain and then suffering,” said one of the neighbors.
The cows were also seen to be consuming food from plastic bags. “There were milking cows and calves as well. The government has made special regulations on how they should be kept and fed as they provide us not only with milk but also cow dung while their urine is used for medicinal purposes. They have to be kept in very hygienic conditions and fed as per requirements,” said Mr Shah.
A complaint has been filed at Kamathipura police station and the owner has been made to pay a fine of '2,500. “Most of the cows are being medically checked and we have given the owner a time period of 48 hours to rehabilitate them. If he fails to do so, we will approach animal welfare bodies for giving them a new shelter,” said one Barud from Kamathipura police station.
