Eighteen dogs were found poisoned in Nizamuddin East on Saturday morning. Some of them died on Friday night itself.

Local dog lovers have filed a police complaint, alleging the animals, most of whom were vaccinated and fed regularly by the residents, were deliberately poisoned.

Five of the 18 dogs were taken to the Friendicoes animal shelter and hospital and are currently under treatment. The symptoms, claim those taking care of the dogs, clearly point to poisoning. “The dogs were vomiting throughout. One is still critical. They appear to have been fed food with poison in it. One dog has been sent for autopsy,” said Tandrali Kuli of Friendicoes.

Residents who look after the dogs in the colony say they have been constantly harassed and ridiculed for feeding them. “A resident once stopped my car and threatened me. My servants have been beaten up for doing the same. This, despite the dogs being inoculated and having never bitten anyone,” a resident said.

Sumita Mehta, another resident, said, “I have been repeatedly asked to stop feeding the dogs. I feel the colony is safer when there are dogs to guard us. Due to their presence, no monkeys come to the area anymore to bother us.”

As per the first ever dog census conducted in the city, Nizamuddin East is among the better off areas with regard to the dog population and sterilisation.

“We found 58 dogs in the whole colony, of which 50 were sterilised. This is a very good ratio,” Kuli said.

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