(IN): Bangalore: New approach to dog menace

April 20, 2007

id=NEWEN20070009250

Bangalore: New approach to dog menace

Maya Sharma

Thursday, April 19, 2007 (Bangalore)

People from all sides in the dog divide in Bangalore agree that in an

ideal world there would be no dogs living on the streets.

The most humane answer is an Animal Birth Control programme which

involves capturing dogs, vaccinating them against diseases,

sterilizing them and releasing them where they were caught.

However, the entire process of catching dogs with a noose around the

neck is traumatic and can result in terrible injuries.

But a system devised by a team in Ahmedabad, which involves trapping

the dogs in nets, then vaccinating and sterilizing them on the spot,

is now being attempted in Bangalore.

''Our dog catchers are experts in catching these dogs and the animal

is very comfortable in these nets. This is a one day relief.''

''We are collecting the dogs and releasing them on the same day. It

is not necessary to put the dog in the cages for post-operative care.

We have completed 45 000 dogs in Ahmedabad,'' said Dr P S Bagade,

Animal Help Foundation.

The team of 14 people carries out the surgeries in less than half an

hour for both male and female dogs.

The cost is Rs 375 for males and Rs 395 for females, which will be

borne by the city corporation.

Faced with public pressure to get the dogs off the streets and the

need to comply with laws that make random killing of the dogs

illegal, the authorities thought this method was certainly worth a

try.

''The aim is to sterilize 5000 animals in the newly added areas of

Bangalore using this Ahmedabad team and see how successful it is.

Depending on its success and the need, we may think of continuing

their services,'' said R Narayanaswamy, Jt Commissioner, Mahadevapura

Zone.

The new method is certainly not a magic wand, which will remove

street dogs in an instant, but it would seem to be a more humane way

of tackling the issue.

Recommended Posts