Calcutta High Court stays handing over of French Mastiff Bruno to owners

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The French mastiff dog 'Bruno' from Calcutta is again embroiled in judicial affairs. The Calcutta High Court in a turn of events has ordered for Bruno to not be returned to his owners by NGO Debasree Roy Foundation. 

Earlier this month a Single Bench of the Calcutta High Court had ordered the Debasree Roy Foundation to hand over a French mastiff dog, Bruno, to his owners. Allegedly, Bruno had gone missing on 14th January, 2022. Lawyer Sukanya Mirbahar, a resident of Golfgreen, claimed that the dog has been in their family for the last two and a half years. He was found on Facebook from Howrah three days after his disappearance. It is learned that he was rescued from in front of Panchla police station. Initially, he was kept at Panchla police station. But unable to handle Bruno, the police handed him over to Debashree Roy's Animal Foundation. Following this, Mirbahar filed the petition to get back Bruno.

On the last occasion Bruno was allegedly able to identify his owners basis which the Single Bench had ordered Bruno to be handed over to Mirabhar and her son. 

However, on Wednesday, the State submitted that an enquiry from the neighbours can be conducted to find out whether the writ petitioner was having any such dog. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj allowed such submission, noting, 

"Meanwhile, the direction contained in the order of the learned Single Judge will not be given effect to subject to the condition that the appellants will permit the son of 2 the writ petitioner to visit the dog once a week making due provision for his safety."

Matter listed on 23rd March.