After receiving a complaint about a man who was strangling and trying to kill a dog, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India's Emergency Response Team rushed to the animal's rescue. Team members took the pup – who was breathing heavily and in severe pain – to a local veterinarian for urgent care before admitting him to the Bombay Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals hospital in Parel. The dog suffered from rectal prolapse and bruising on his neck,
The group also worked with the Mumbai police to register a First Information Report (FIR) against the perpetrator under Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 11(1)(a) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960. Section 429 prohibits the killing or maiming of an animal, making the offender liable to be punished with a jail term of up to five years, with or without a fine.
"The pain, fear, and misery that this dog must have endured are hard to imagine. Everyone should
PETA India – whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to abuse in any way" – notes that research shows that people who commit acts of cruelty against animals are often repeated offenders who move on to hurting other animals or humans. In a study of domestic violence victims, 60 per cent of women said their abusive partners had harmed or killed their dogs or other animals. PETA India has long campaigned to strengthen the PCA Act, 1960, which contains archaic penalties, such as a maximum fine of only ₹50 for convicted first-time offenders.