Demand an end to the conspiracy to legalize dog meat trade and dog killing in Kerala

Kerala describes itself as 'God's own Country'. It is a major tourist spot for international travelers who remain oblivious of the State's dark secrets.

Tourists don't know that live tortoises are shelled to feed them. They don't know that elderly women commit suicide in this State to avoid sexual abuse. And neither do they know that chained elephants are beaten every year in sick rituals, causing grievous injuries and even death.

In the last two years, a section of the media has created a hype over the alleged menace of stray dogs. Apparently, dogs are attacking, mauling and killing women and children everywhere. The man behind this propaganda is Kochouseph Chittiliappilly, the owner of V-Guard and Wonderla.

For quite some time, it was baffling why, in spite of facing threat of a growing population of stray dogs and, according to reports, over 270 dog bite cases occurring every single day, the state government had not adopted a spay-neuter policy recommended worldwide. In fact, the State of Jaipur in India has done this to achieve for themselves a situation where dogs and humans exist in perfect harmony.

It was equally baffling to find disturbing pictures of harmless, lactating and docile dogs being rounded up and strangled to death, beaten till their intestines spilled out, captured and injected with poison. It was distressing to see people, including children, standing by casually while these cold-blooded murders were being committed.

We did not understand why a prominent social worker and a compatriot of Chittilappilly would not only defy orders from the Hon'ble Supreme Court but also publicly make children, yes, children swear that they would kill all dogs! And it seemed a real crisis had developed where air guns were subsidized, gold coins and cash were awarded, just for killing dogs. Dogs that could be held by hand, noosed fitted around their necks and then strangled, sometimes by even one person armed only with the strings used in the strangling.

Animal lovers and even people with no particular sympathy for animals were aghast at dead dogs being taken on a parade, strung on poles. There are images of people with satisfied smiles on their faces getting themselves photographed along with strangled dogs lying in a heap, as if they had accomplished something incredible.

Equally disturbing were reports that said dog killers had barged into homes of animal lovers and tried to kill sheltered and caged dogs. On being thwarted, they left after issuing threats and followed up by killing puppies.

Finally, it was clear.
The video outlines the process through which Kochousseph Chittillappilly managed to create dog meat trade inside Kerala. First, false rumours were circulated through the media that dogs were practically overunning the state.
No measures were adopted to limit the population of strays. Then dogs were brutally killed everywhere. In a state where grandsons routinely rape grandmothers and cruelty to animals is a commonplace, a handful of animal lovers stood no chance against paid murderers.
After that, to 'ensure public safety' , dogs (including lactating mothers with their pups), were rounded up and transported to illegal dog pounds. Key persons from the administration were present during their inauguration.
There are reports that the Kerala governement, at least at district levels, have already exported live dogs to the infamous Yulin dog festival in to gain foreign currency.
There are offical statements from the administration at local levels that dog farming be started to export dog meat and skin.
And finally, the great humanitarian, Kochousepth Chittilappilly has offered to 'sponsor' freezer containers to transport dead dogs to Nagaland and Mizoram where illegal and horrific dog meat trade thrives. And all this, just to keep the inhabitants of Kerala safe.

This has been a clever strategy from the beginning where countless animals have been brutalized just so that one person could make money and share the spoils with people who assisted him. The local administration in Kerala has been promoting this as a viable source of employment for the people as well as eradication of the 'threat' of dogs.

The fact is that Kerala is a state where 100% literacy is only a mask that hides a degenerate state of affairs. And a proper cleansing is necessary, starting, perhaps, with those in positions of authority, who have sponsored this evil. It is the same people who had so far kept under wrap the plight of elderly women from sexual predators even from within the family until it a report was published after a five year long investigation.

We cannot stand by and let this darkness grow. It is one thing to put down a rabid dog and quite another to lure in an unsuspecting, tail wagging, friendly stray and then pin him to the ground with sticks and kill him brutally and revel at the sight. This is sickness and criminal behaviour which, if left unchecked, will only grow to greater proportions. We do not want Kerala to shroud its evils, and act righteous to create an inhuman trade under the pretext of saving humanity.