Mangaluru: Animal Care Trust (ACT) has stepped forward seeking justice for Bhairav — a stray puppy allegedly chased, assaulted and left critically injured in an apartment basement in Alape locality here.Advocate Suma R Nayak, ACT’s honorary treasurer, said the incident was reported on Feb 9. The accused had rented out a flat he owned and visited the premises occasionally. A stray dog and her three puppies lived nearby and were regularly fed by two families, she said.CCTV footage showed the accused first chasing the dog and then targeting one of the puppies. The frightened puppy ran into the basement in an attempt to escape. There was no CCTV coverage inside the basement. He allegedly assaulted the puppy with a wooden rod and a piece of engine scrap found at the site and threw the injured puppy out, she said.Neighbours rushed the puppy to a nearby veterinary clinic and informed ACT soon after. Since the puppy had received initial treatment, the complainant took her to ACT the next day.ACT extended support to the complainant and guided him. The puppy suffered a severe head injury. She recognises people, but one of her eyes has shrunk. Doctors fear a nervous disorder and suspect the damage could be permanent, Suma said.A formal complaint was filed at Kankanady Town police station. The accused, Prabhananda Shenoy, was booked for allegedly chasing and brutally assaulting the black-and-white puppy, about 2–3 months old and cared for by complainant Kishore Salian.ACT also expressed hope that the puppy finds a good home.
