With the rising stray-dog attacks in Kerala, the cyber world has been divided into two: a group, which wants to boycott the South Indian state because of its government's decision to cull rabid animals, and others who are against the hate campaign.
A group of animal rights activists have launched a campaign named "Worldwide Boycott Kerala Movement 2015" on social media platforms to protest the state government's decision to cull violent dogs.
"Boycott kerala and their products until they stop killing voiceless dogs," says the description of Facebook page "Boycott Kerala".
While many animal activists express their support on the matter, there are many, who argue that such a campaign is hitting the headlines based on wrong information.
"This campaign is based on incorrect information!!! The activists' argument that Kerala Government has ordered to kill all the dogs is incorrect," says Vivek Stanley, a social media user.
"Are you going to check each and every dog, say it that you want to kill voiceless on the name of rabies n violent dogs," asks canine lover Pooja Rampal.
Meanwhile, another online petition called "Stop the hate campaign against Kerala" is also doing the rounds on social media after it was posted in the popular Change.org website.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor and businessman Kochouseph Chittilappilly have also come forward in support of the petition, which is signed by more than 4,000 supporters.
Keralites may not have handled stray dogs well, but that's no reason to hate the state. A petition doing the rounds: https://t.co/Cl6y7i7cRf
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) July 21, 2015
Dear friends, I would like to call your kind attention to the 'Boycott Kerala' hate campaign being taken out by stray...
Posted by Kochouseph Chittilappilly on Thursday, 23 July 2015
Meanwhile, it has to be noted that during the All Party Meeting at the State Assembly recently, the government had decided to expand animal birth control programme and to give rabies vaccination to all dogs. They also decided to find a solution on the disposal of waste, which is said to be the main reason for the increasing number of stray dogs on the streets.
"Animal Birth Control Programme (ABC) will be expanded with the help of LSGs in all districts in the state. Stray dogs will be given vaccination against rabies and the dogs will be marked. Existing laws and court orders are not against killing of stray dogs that are having rabies or those that are violent. The meeting also demanded that availability of vaccines should be ensured," according to Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy's official statement.
The CM had also stated that the Animal Husbandry department will start 50 centres to implement the ABC programme.
