Irresponsible Actions Lead to Dog’s Death in Car While Family Visits Taj Mahal

A pet Labrador’s tragic death inside a parked car in Agra, Uttar Pradesh (UP), has stirred shock and outrage among animal lovers. The incident occurred when a family from Haryana visited the Taj Mahal, leaving their pet locked inside the vehicle on a sweltering day. Lack of ventilation and water are suspected as the causes behind the dog’s demise. A video recorded by a passerby captured the moment and included audio of the parking attendant advising the owners against leaving the dog unattended inside the car.

The UP Police have taken action against the couple, booking them for animal cruelty and seizing their vehicle. However, social media users demanded further measures to ensure pet safety. Deepti Upadhyay, a People For Animals Agra liaison officer, expressed shock and sorrow over the incident, emphasizing that dogs are a responsibility and not a mere trend. She believed the family should have entrusted the dog to an attendant or ensured proper ventilation by leaving the windows open. Upadhyay also criticized the decision to bring the pet along to a location like the Taj Mahal, stressing the negligence of the caretakers despite being warned against leaving the dog alone in a locked car.

In countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, the Good Samaritan law permitted individuals to break a car window to rescue an animal at risk of suffocation. Similar provisions exist in the Indian Penal Code (IPC), requiring the notification of relevant authorities, such as the police, before damaging a private vehicle to save an animal in an emergency.

Ashok Nigam, a senior advocate at the Delhi High Court, advised documenting such incidents as evidence for later use. Aastha Mathur, a lawyer based in Delhi, asserted that the incident is a clear negligence case under Section 3 of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. She pointed out that while India has adequate laws protecting animal rights, the lack of awareness about proper animal care remains a significant challenge. Mathur believed that these fundamental lessons should be imparted before granting pet ownership.

To prevent similar incidents, experts recommended the following guidelines

1. Never leave your pet unattended inside any vehicle.
2. Keep a bowl of water readily available.
3. Remove the leash before leaving the pet alone.
4. If someone remains in the car with the pet, keep the engine running and the AC on.
5. If taking the pet to a location is unavoidable, ensure regular check-ins by someone responsible.

Dr. Rajkumar from NDMC Veterinary Hospital Moti Bagh provided the aforementioned inputs.

For animal distress situations, please get in touch with the following helpline numbers:

Police helpline: 100 or 112

PETA India’s emergency helpline: +919820122602

Animal ambulance: 1962