After Bangalore, dog controversy starts in Kolkata

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'Humane' dog catching methods spell problems in Kolkata

 

Milon Dutta, Anandabazar Patrika, 12 March, 2007

 

An effort to be more humane to stray dogs has generated the possibility of

stray dog control ending altogether.

Recently, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, in an order circulated to all

NGOs, has directed them to start using lassoes before the end of May. The

new process has to be started by mid May. The order stated, in

the prevalent circumstances, tongs could not be used to catch dogs in the

city. Ironically, the overwhelming majority of dogs caught in the city are

captured using tongs. The organisation spearheading dog capture in Kolkata

has refused to resort to other methods.

So why has the municipality issued such a statute? The gentleman

responsible for issuing the order, Debdwaipayan Chottopadhyay said, " The

city Mayor wanted dog catching to be stopped with the help of tongs. He

wanted a humane method of dog catching. Besides there was also a Supreme

Court verdict on the use of lassoes. "

But People For Animals, the organisation that caught the maximum number of

dogs, did not agree. The organisation has been entrusted to capture dogs

from wards 31 to 100 and sterilises and neuters them. PFA Managing Trustee

Debashis Chakrabarti said, " We cannot compromise on the safety of people in

the process of being humane to dogs. We need to look into the safety of the

dog catchers of our organisation too. Previously, some animal overs had

taken legal steps regarding the use of tongs in dog catching. The High Court

has not banned dog catching with tongs. However, the court did instruct the

municipality that if there were any other feasible methods for restraining

dogs, that should be looked into. "

This order is not applicable for the municipality dog squad. The dog squad

supervisor, Surojit Ghotok mentioned, " Whether our employees will agree to

use lassoes in the capture process by risking their lives, is a matter that

depends on their will. But the order did not state that municipal

workers are under any obligation to catch dogs with lassoes. " So how would

the dog capture method progress? Debdwaipyan and Surojit both shrugged off

the question with a " We will look into it. "

Love and Care for Animals is the organisation responsible for dog

population control in wards 1 to 30. Susmita Ray, director of Love And Care

for Animals, said, " Using the lasso is a sufficiently safe method for

catching dogs. No city in the country apart from Kolkata uses tongs to

capture dogs. Are dogs in Kolkata more dangerous? " she asked. Susmita said

that her organisation captured an average of 150 to 200 dogs using the

lasso.

People For Animals captures more than 1500 dogs on an average per month.

Debasis revealed that it would be impractical to capture such a large

number of dogs without the use of tongs. He said, " It is true that dogs are

caught using lassoes in other cities. But most of the dogs there are killed.

Kolkata is the only city where dogs are caught, vaccinated and released

systematically. Recently, almost 500 dogs have been caught and killed in

various localities in Bangalore, " Debasis said, " If the Municipality

captured the dogs for us, we could be involved in sterilisation and

vaccination. Considering the dog menace in the city, it would be impossible

to control their population without the use of tongs. " But Debdwaipayan

maintained, " In order to work, it would be compulsory to follow Municipality

instructions. "