80% stray dog sterilisation done

BBMP Mahadevapura Zone has achieved about 80 per cent success in stray dog sterilisation under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme.

Despite Bellandur Ward and Doddanekkundi Ward having thousands of stray dogs, no untoward incident has been reported because of dogs in the Mahadevapura Zone so far.
Measures have been taken by the civic body to contain the stray dogs' population. Places are identified where stray dogs are present and those causing nuisance are caught by professional dog catchers. Assistant Director (Animal Husbandry - Mahadevapura Zone) Dr. P Channappa told Cityplus that rabies vaccination was given for stray dogs and sterilisation would be done at ABC centres after catching them.
"The stray dogs are kept for three days in the ABC centres after operation for observation. Castration will be done for male dogs whereas the uterus will be removed from female dogs. Mercy killing is done only if a stray dog tests positive for rabies," he said.
Channappa added that there is not even a single case of dog bite in Mahadevapura Zone despite its having over 40,000 stray dogs. "Stray dogs are ferocious where there are meat stalls. Hence, we are very cautious and sensitive near meat stalls, educational institutions, hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, among other places. Our response is quick particularly in these places and we will attend to the dog menace within 24 hours once we receive calls from public," he added.
The doctor said that the major challenge for the department is to educate and create awareness among clinics and nursing homes to dispose of bio-medical wastes scientifically as stray dogs will breed on wastes. "Meat stalls should not dispose of wastes in the open or feed the dogs with meat wastes, as it would be dangerous since the dogs will turn violent," he observed.
It was said that the staff from the Animal Husbandry Department of BBMP inspects the areas weekly twice or thrice to check the stray dog menace. "Pet dogs will be given shelter by the Compassion Unlimited Plus Action organisation and the Karuna Animal Welfare Association of Karnataka if the pet owners cannot look after their dogs without abandoning them on streets," Channappa said.

Treatment
‘Stray dogs are kept for three days in the ABC centres after operation for observation. Castration will be done for male dogs, whereas the uterus will be removed from the female dogs. Mercy killing is done only if a stray dog tests positive for rabies.’

--CITYPLUS NEWSDESK