(IN): Civic staff in dogged pursuit of stray canine

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070713/asp/guwahati/story_8051444.asp

 

Civic staff in dogged pursuit of stray canine

A STAFF REPORTER

 

 

July 12: A stray dog has been giving sleepless nights to officials of

the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) for the past few days.

 

The mad dog has spread panic in Lakhtokia, Fancy Bazar and Panbazar

areas after it bit as many as 15 pedestrians in the past few days. Its

latest prey is former MLA Ajai Dutta whom it attacked yesterday in

Lakhtokia.

 

According to witnesses, the big black dog with fiery eyes pounces on

anyone who comes in its way. Inquiries by the GMC revealed that 15

cases of dog bites had been reported from the area till last evening.

 

As the panic spread, the GMC today launched a " dog hunt " to capture

the canine on its wanted list.

 

" We searched for the dog throughout the day but to no avail. The

search will continue for the next few days and we hope to net it

soon, " GMC veterinary officer Makhan Chandra Barman said.

 

The GMC was helped by NGOs like People For Animal and JBF, a

Scotland-based voluntary organisation, in today's search operation.

 

Residents of the city voiced concern over the high incidence of dog

bites and accused the civic body of inaction.

 

Gautam Kalita, a resident of Panbazar, said the streets were teeming

with hundreds of stray dogs and the GMC remained a mute spectator.

 

" It must do something to stop the canine menace, " he said.

 

The population of street dogs is increasing by leaps and bounds but

the veterinary branch of the GMC is ill-equipped to tackle the

situation.

 

It does not have enough resource or manpower to prevent dog bites. As

a result, the number of people bitten by stray dogs is on the rise in

the city.

 

The GMC has been receiving requests from city residents at regular

intervals to do something to save them from the menace.

 

Stray dog population in Guwahati is estimated to be over 15,000 though

officially there is no canine count.

 

Barman said the GMC had prepared a Rs 30-lakh scheme for sterilisation

and immunisation of 5,000 stray dogs in the municipal area in a year.

 

The proposal has been submitted to Kamrup (metro) district

administration to avail funds.

 

According to GMC sou-rces, Rs 15 lakh will be required for

sterilisation at the rate of Rs 300 per dog and Rs 2 lakh for

immunisation.

 

Immunisation of a dog will cost Rs 40.

 

 

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