An office-bearer of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) in Dombivli has demanded that the local civic body shut down a dog shelter, claiming that local residents were being disturbed by the canines’ barking. Incidentally, it is well known that his party chief, Raj Thackeray, is a dog lover who has adopted several strays. Aditi Parmeshwaran, an animal activist who resides in Dombivli, opened the shelter, Empathy Unlimited Animal Welfare Foundation, on a 2,000–2,500 sq ft plot in the Dombivli-Thakurli region in August 2020 after approaching a landlord, who is also an animal lover.

The primary reason for opening the centre, according to Aditi, was to help strays in need. “Currently, there are close to 100 stray dogs at our shelter, the majority of which have disabilities such as blindness or significant injuries. Our team has been working to provide these animals with a decent life, since if they are left on the road, they might not survive,” she said. Pradip Sharad Chaudhari, the MNS leader, wrote to the health department of the Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) on May 31, stating that the neighbourhood’s residents were experiencing problems as a result of the dogs’ constant barking.