Date:12/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/12/stories/2007061220690300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Census of dogs begins

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: The census of dogs, both pets and strays, in the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) limits, began on Monday, with about 1,000 trained personnel starting the survey in the old areas of Bangalore.

From Tuesday, the BBMP will initiate the census in new areas of the city, a press release said. The census will be completed over the next 10 days and is being conducted jointly with the State Animal Husbandry Department.

After the performance audit of the Animal Birth Control programme was conducted, the report had criticised the BBMP for not conducting a survey of the number of dogs in the city before initiating the programme. The report had held this as one of the major reasons as to why the programme had been ineffective in the city. Having an idea of the number of dogs is important because then the programme can set a target on the number of dogs to be sterilised every year and the year by which the growth rate can be brought down to zero per cent.