“When we got inside, the majority of them were dead, about 70 percent. Their bodies were lying on the ground,” Chundrigar, who runs ACF Animal Rescue, told AFP.
“It was so horrific, I can’t tell you.” Starving and locked in cages with no light or ventilation, the surviving pets sat amongst the dead, trembling. As the virus pandemic grew, Pakistan’s major cities were plunged into lockdown, forcing many shops to close. Only stalls selling essential goods such as food and medicine were allowed to continue operating. It left pet shop owners blocked from their businesses, some resorting to sneaking in at night to feed the animals.
After the desperate rescue, Chundrigar has now convinced the Karachi authorities to allow pet shop owners and her team daily access to the animals.
Dumped in a sewer
In the eastern city of Lahore, animals met with a similar fate.
The bodies of about 20 dogs were found dumped in a sewer near Tollinton Market, a hub for pet businesses which had closed leaving animals to starve. Kiran Maheen was able to rescue more than two dozen dogs, rabbits and cats after convincing officials at the market to let her in, but a large number had already died.
“When the police opened up the shutters, a lot of animals were already lying dead inside,” Maheen told AFP, adding that many had suffocated from a lack of air. Pakistani authorities have confirmed about 2,900 cases of COVID-19 and 45 deaths, though the tally is thought to be many times larger because of testing limitations in this impoverished country of 215 million.
Growing up in New York with Pakistani roots, I’ve always been fascinated by the…
In a groundbreaking move that promises to revolutionize the pilgrimage experience, Pakistani startup MYTM has…
Islamabad United, the most decorated team in Pakistan Super League history with three championships, proudly…
Karachi, Pakistan - May 17, 2024 A technical issue on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)…
A businessman from Mandi Bahauddin in Gujarat, Ahmad Jawad, is funding fugitive YouTuber Adil…
Riyadh, KSA – [Date] – Bidaya Finance's commitment to digitally transform its operations is deeply…
Leave a Comment