Mumbai: Firecrackers cause dogs to flee from homes, owners distressed

Mitul Pradeep and the dog that entered her Vile Parle bungalow

Several animal lovers across the city have begun rescuing pets that ran away from home after getting spooked by the bursting of firecrackers during Diwali. There have been numerous reports of dogs going missing from areas across the city and surrounding areas, including Borivli, Chembur, Vile Parle, Khar, Dadar and Navi Mumbai.

Recently, a canine, which went missing at Shivaji Park on November 12, was found in Chembur. It is estimated that more than 100 pet dogs are missing at present and animal lovers are coordinating with each other to ensure they are reunited with their owners. Dadar Parsi Colony resident Dilzad Bhesadia's dog, Shakira, has been missing since early November. "Shakira is 14 years old, timid and loving and has poor vision due to her age," Bhesadia said.

Messages shared by owners of missing dogs on social media

Overall, seven dogs are missing from the area, including Raja aka Frisky and Guddi, a female canine. Anannya Datta, a Vile Parle East resident, said, "My dog Maan Singh has been lost since November 11. He is only nine months old and very friendly. He has a tag on his collar with my contact number. I have been searching for him, but I have not found him yet."

Chembur resident Udit Khanna, the owner of a missing dog named Ballu, said, "My dog has been missing since November 12. He got scared by the sound of firecrackers. He was in our plant nursery at the time. We have tried printing posters and circulating them on social media, but we have still not found him."

‘Everyone must coexist'

Mitesh Jain, an animal welfare representative and member of the Animal Welfare Board of India, expressed his concern about the excessive bursting of firecrackers and high noise levels during Diwali. He stated, "This year, the sound level of firecrackers has been extremely high, with people not adhering to the government's designated timing for bursting them. This not only causes severe stress to animals and birds but also affects senior citizens and those with compromised immune systems. We need to find a solution so that everyone can peacefully coexist and enjoy the festival."

Vijay Rangare, Hon. Animal Welfare Officer, who was appointed by the Bombay High Court and Maharashtra government, said, "During Diwali, we see countless missing and found dog cases linked to fireworks. It's disappointing that people overlook this issue. Even with clear guidelines from the Supreme Court and high court, law enforcement falls short. It's crucial for everyone to take responsibility and ensure our pets' safety during celebrations."

Missing dog found

A missing dog recently entered the Vile Parle bungalow of Mitul Pradeep, the daughter of poet Pradeep. She promptly informed feeders and requested them to share photos of the canine on their group to help find the dog's owner. Mitul told mid-day, "This dog seems to have lost way due to crackers. He has been sitting in my compound since Wednesday night and he is well behaved and friendly. He has two collars and bells are attached to one of them. Now he is crying and feeling lonely. I circulated his photo to find his owner. I am sure that this dog had run away due to firecrackers."