Pune: At least 15 dogs and 35 cats, crammed into four to five cages without food or water for days, were rescued and several carcasses found from a facility functioning as an animal shelter at Dattawadi in Hinjewadi on Saturday evening following former Union minister Maneka Gandhi 's intervention. Animal welfare volunteers alleged that the facility was being run by an unregistered ‘non-governmental organisation'. During the action, over 20 animal welfare volunteers with a Hinjewadi police constable entered the locked ‘shelter' and found many cats and dogs dead.
They also found around 50 animals starving and locked in cages. Gandhi told TOI, "The fake animal shelter claimed to provide a safe haven for dogs and cats till they were adopted. However, it was nothing more than a facade for a sinister operation.
Unsuspecting animal welfare volunteers, trusting the shelter's promise of foster care for old and ailing pets, had left over 200 injured, ailing and ageing animals, in the hands of this self-proclaimed saviour over the last few years." She added, "Apart from animal cruelty, the man behind this fake shelter was issuing receipts and claiming (tax relief under) 80G, despite his NGO not being registered. He allegedly amassed over Rs60 lakh through fees and donations, exploiting the compassion of animal lovers for his own gain.
" The owner of the ‘NGO', who would collect substantial amounts from animal welfare volunteers by promising them of foster care for old and ailing pe.