Date:01/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/01/stories/2008110155301000.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Absence of vets hampers stray dog control in capital city

Special Correspondent

Corporation to revive Suraksha project for rabies control

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Faced with mounting public demand to control the stray dog menace, the City Corporation is working on a plan to revive the flagging Suraksha project for integrated rabies control and sterilisation of animals. The Corporation however is hampered by the absence of veterinary doctors to sterilise dogs caught from the streets.

Chairman of the Corporation’s standing committee on Health G. R .Anil said the two doctors on deputation from the Animal Husbandry department had returned to their parent department. “We have written to the Animal Husbandry director seeking the services of doctors. We expect a favourable response soon”, he said.

Last week, the Corporation Council decided to create two squads of animal handlers to round up stray dogs and bring them to the veterinary hospital for sterilisation. The handlers will be responsible for capture of animals and post- operative care.

The government recently increased the wage for capturing a stray dog from Rs.20 to Rs.50. “The hike will be an incentive for the handlers”, Mr. Anil said. The council also approved the purchase of a new vehicle to transport the captured dogs. Apart from the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for sterilisation of stray dogs, Suraksha also involves health certification of pet dogs.

The hospital at Pettah has been equipped with state-of-the-art equipment for laparoscopic surgery. Work on a new building for the hospital at Thiruvallam is in progress. A team of veterinary surgeons has undergone training in laparoscopic surgery at the Madras Veterinary College.

The Corporation is planning a contract with the society on the lines of the Kudumbasree project for garbage collection.

Mr. Anil said the services offered under Suraksha could be extended to civic bodies in other parts of the State on demand. He also said the construction of a building to house a dog hostel and in-patient division at Pettah would commence soon. The work has been tendered and the corporation council has revised the rate to compensate for the spiralling price of construction materials.

Suraksha follows a two-pronged approach to control rabies. While pet dogs will be licensed and issued health certificates, stray dogs would be sterilised or put to sleep.