Unidentified group captures stray dogs, triggering concerns

By Indika Aruna Kumara   

An organised gang capturing stray dogs in villages around  Moragahakanda reservoir and by the Elahera Road has aroused suspicion of  the residents of the area that the dogs are slaughtered for meat.   

The eyewitnesses said that on Saturday evening (03) a group  of individuals armed with fishing nets and clubs captured and took away  several stray dogs frequenting Moraghakanda Road.  

A representative of Ambana Farmer Organisation and a social  worker in the area Y.M.S. Bandara (56) said the pet dogs in houses in  about ten villages that were vacated under the Moragahakanda reservoir  project have gone astray after the owners settled down in other areas.  These dogs have been captured and taken away, and the residents of the  area suspect that they are killed for meat, but it is yet to be  established.   

He said the sale of canine meat had been reported earlier  from Naula Police area, and the people suspect that this was a recurrence  of a similar incident.  

He pointed out that the killing of wild animals in the  forest reserves has been going on unchecked for long and that people  are under the impression that dogs are killed for meat to be mixed  with game meat.   

Residents of the area pointed out that hundreds of stray  dogs frequent the roads and feed on garbage disposed of haphazardly in the  environment by the people. They said they witnessed several incidents of  capturing stray dogs by a group of unidentified individuals.   

Farmer Organisation representative further said that steps would be taken to inform the relevant authorities in this regard.