VJ Luke Kenny roots for a police force for animals

A Mumbai tabloid reported today that stray dogs are being tortured in the western suburbs. The dogs were gagged and their eyes gouged out. Is a serial dog tormentor on the loose?

We asked animal lover and VJ, actor, director, producer, critic and a man with a very strong opinion, Luke Kenny about the stray dog 'menace'. Luke has made quite an impact in Rock On and he makes a strong impact right here with his opinion. Amid controversy and argument about whether street dogs should be eliminated (after a few of them bit children), here is one man who is out saving the dogs.

I want a police force for animals (dogs in particular). Everyone makes a noise about stray dogs, but what facilities do we have for them in this country? We hear the NGO's only when a stray is brutalised. They have to get more support from the government and they just have to be more active in helping keep strays safe.

I support the BMC's decision on sterilising the strays instead of putting them to sleep.

Going veg

I have been a vegetarian since 1991 after I saw an animal being slaughtered. I went to buy some meat for my dog and saw the expression on the dead goat's face. That did it for me. I allow my pets meat because they are used to eating meats. But if pets are trained from an early age then they can be brought up on a vegetarian diet.

I want concerned citizens to form this force and work on it. These citizens should be given the power and authority to apprehend anyone who ill treats animals. Even though I have spoken mainly of dogs here, there are a lot of animals domestic or otherwise who are ill treated daily.

If people tire of their pets or believe that they cannot care for them anymore, they should drop them off at dog shelters and animal hospitals instead of abandoning them. Domesticated pets cannot survive on their own, and are often attacked by the animals on the street.

How does Luke do his bit?

I do not wear any leather, make sure that the strays on my street are well taken care off and even jump to their defense when the need arises. There is this rowdy bunch of kids on my street who traumatise strays by teasing them and tying firecrackers on their tails. I jump to the dog's rescue when I am around, but this is why I believe we need an animal force.