BANGALORE: Even as sections of Bangaloreans demand the elimination of street dogs in the city, World Health Organisation (WHO) representatives visiting the city argue that it is not the way to control the dog numbers.

"Indiscriminate killing of dogs has never been the solution for dog control management. For example, in China, which undertook large-scale killing of dogs, cases of rabies have started to reappear. The Animal Birth Control Programme is the best way to stabilise dog numbers," said F.X. Meslin, Chief, Zoonoses Unit, WHO, Geneva, at a press conference called by the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) on Saturday.

R.M. Kharb, chairman of the Animal Welfare Board of India, said, "While public outcry is understandable, it is imperative to be rational in our approach in dealing with the crisis." What was immediately needed was to identify the lead dog in the pack and removing it from the area would defuse any potentially dangerous situation.

"The ABC Programme needs to be extended on a much larger scale and a highly motivated and professional team must execute it."

To this end, the BBMP could take the assistance of the Municipal Corporation of Ahmedabad (MCA), which had implemented a highly effective programme. "Some 45,000 dogs have been sterilised in the past one year in Ahmedabad. This is the highest by any city and the success is largely because of the trained professionals they have employed," Dr. Kharb said.

BBMP Commissioner K. Jairaj, who said he was amenable to the suggestion, added that a team from Kerala would arrive soon to help catch feral dogs. Announcing a special drive from Sunday, he said 30 new vans for every range in the city would go around to catch "ferocious dogs and leaders of dog packs."

A residents' association from every range would be invited to help identify the high-risk areas where many mobile meat shops and ineffective garbage clearance were seen.

Interestingly, the NGOs involved in the controversial ABC Programme — CUPA, ARF, Karuna and Krupa — are not part of this drive. "Bowing to public opinion, we have decided to handle the situation alone," said Mr. Jairaj.

Public can call the helpline 22975585 or 22221188 for any dog complaints.

Meanwhile, activists of SUCI, DYFI and ABVP protested in front of the BBMP office and called for immediate action to check the stray dog menace.

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