Bengaluru:
Kerala's plan to cull street dogs, which are deemed to be dangerous, has run into opposition. In addition to online campaigns urging people to boycott Kerala tourism and products, protests were held in cities around India.
In Bengaluru, animal lovers gathered at the Town Hall early on Sunday evening. Posters urged the Kerala government not to kill dogs and instead opt for a converted Animal Birth Control programme.
Jen Lopaz, who organized the protest, told NDTV, "Killing is not the answer. The Supreme Court has said it is illegal to kill a street dog and birth control operations are the only answer."
Sowmya Reddy, of the Animal Welfare Board of India, said not all dogs were dangerous and there was a fear of indiscriminate killing by the Kerala government.
Kerala's decision is in response to a large number of dog bites reported, and the pressure to address the problem. But it is being fiercely resisted by animal lovers outside the state as well.