- Businessman Parag Desai, a top executive at Wagh Bakri Tea Group, died Sunday days after he was attacked by stray dogs outside his residence. He was 49.
- Desai suffered severe injuries trying to ward off street dogs that attacked him on October 15, reported local news agencies.
- As soon as the cause of Desai’s death hit the headlines, social media platforms were flooded with posts highlighting the growing menace of stray dogs across the country.
- Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi called for a “pro-active policy” to handle the menace by establishing active shelters for stray animals and vaccinating them.
- Sudhir Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director at Pinnacle Industries Limited, made a heartfelt statement regarding the incident and noted that the issue has become increasingly polarizing, critical, and contentious in recent times.
- Dr Tanmay Motiwala, Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, highlighted the increased frequency of such attacks saying “issue of stray dogs should be addressed.”
Parag Desai, owner and executive director of popular tea brand Wagh Bakri, passed away in Gujarat’s Ahmedabad. He was 49. Parag Desai is survived by his wife Vidisha and daughter Parisha.
The death of prominent businessman and Wagh Bakri Tea Group scion Parag Desai has brought the spotlight back on the menace of stray dogs. Desai reportedly suffered grievous injuries trying to ward off stray dogs that attacked him on October 15 and succumbed to a brain hemorrhage on Sunday during the course of treatment.
As soon as the cause of Desai’s death hit the headlines, social media platforms were flooded with posts highlighting the growing menace of stray dogs across the country.
Condoling the demise of 49-year-old businessman, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi said that Desai’s death was avoidable. She called for a “pro-active policy” to handle the menace by establishing active shelters for stray animals and vaccinating them.
Sudhir Mehta, Chairman and Managing Director at Pinnacle Industries Limited, made a heartfelt statement regarding the incident, shedding light on the ever-increasing threat posed by stray dogs. He noted that the issue has become increasingly polarizing, critical, and contentious in recent times. Mehta said that the administration’s hands are consistently tied due to opposition from animal welfare groups, making it difficult to implement any action, including relocating, capturing, or neutering these stray dogs.
“This menace has spiraled out of control and is now a life-threatening crisis. It’s no longer about physical harm and the grave injuries inflicted on kids, senior citizens, and adults. What’s even more distressing is the psychological terror that citizens endure, especially during the nights,” he added.
“What makes this situation even more worrisome is that most stray dogs in and around #Pune are actively fed by volunteers, many of whom don’t even reside in these affected areas. The havoc these dog packs wreak and the terror they impose are nothing short of a nightmarish ordeal,” Mehta further stated. Calling for a resolution action, Mehta said that nothing justifies citizens, particularly innocent children, losing their lives or living in perpetual fear.
Dr Tanmay Motiwala, who works at the Department of Pediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur, highlighted the increased frequency of such attacks saying “issue of stray dogs should be addressed.” “Pet love is a different thing. Even I love them but this is so terrible. Imagine being chased by stray dogs. Faced that quite a lot of times while returning by bike after late-night OTs.”
