Pet dog chase: Amazon delivery boy jumps off 3rd floor, reminds Swiggy boy’s episode

HYDERABAD: In a repeat of a wild pet dog horror four months ago, an Amazon delivery executive is battling for life after jumping off an apartment building in a frantic bid to save his life from a ferocious Doberman. The incident, which once again sparked outrage and debate on ‘pet dog rights vs precious human lives’ debate, happened in Panchavati Colony of the downtown Raidurg area of Hyderabad on Sunday afternoon.

According to reports, the Amazon executive, whose name was not immediately known, turned up at the third floor flat of an apartment complex in Panchavati Colony to deliver a bed ordered online on Sunday afternoon. Even as he was waiting for the inmates to respond to his door call, the ferocious canine, which was apparently not kept under the leash, charged at him while barking aloud.

Fearing the worst and being chased down, the delivery executive frantically retreated and in a bid to save his life from the beastly pet, he jumped off the third floor of the apartment. He reportedly sustained multiple fractures as he landed on the sidewall of the building. He was rushed to a private hospital where his condition is stated to be critical.

Dog only barked, did not chase, claims owner

As the incident quickly spiralled into a major controversy, the owner of the dog, who could not be immediately identified, swung into a ‘damage-control’ mode. According to reports, he denied the accusations that the Amazon delivery executive was chased down by his pet dog, forcing the hapless man to jump off the building.

He said that his dog only barked at the delivery executive and did not charge at him, as being reported in the media. He claimed that the delivery executive got panicky and impulsively jumped off the building. The dog owner also said that he tried to save the delivery executive from falling down but in vain.

‘Animal rights vs human rights’ debate back under focus

The incident, which evoked instant shock and condemnation, revived the horrific memory of a similar incident that happened in Hyderabad four months ago in which a Swiggy delivery boy had to pay with his life in the posh Banjara Hills area. Mohammed Rizwan (23), who went to Lumbini Rock Castle apartment to deliver food ordered online on January 16, 2023, jumped off the third floor after the pet dog of the customer, a German Shepherd, lunged at him.

Rizwan was so scared that he did not know how to deal with the monstrous canine in that split second. He later succumbed to the serious injuries sustained in the incident while receiving treatment at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS).

The incident sparked an intense debate on social media platforms and outside on whether the animal rights prescribed as per law for pet dogs should really prevail over precious human lives, in cases the latter were attacked. As per the existing regulations to protect animal rights, stringent punishment – with heavy penalty and even a jail term in worst cases – is meted out to humans who ill-treat, beat, torture or kill dogs. But there is an all-pervading opinion in society about a certain degree of ambiguity when it comes to the rights of humans in cases where they were attacked by pet dogs.

The latest incident also comes at a time when the two Telugu states have been witnessing a swarm of stray dog attacks on humans. Young children and aged people have particularly been the most vulnerable lot as they are being increasingly targetted by the marauding packs of street dogs. A few months ago, the country watched in shock the CCTV footage of how a four-year-old Pradeep was mauled to death by a pack of street dogs in Bagh Amberpet of Hyderabad. As recently as May 19, 2023, in a similar incident in Kazipet of Telangana, eight-year-old Chotu was savagely bitten by stray dogs, leading to his death.