The Hindu 06.09.2012
525 dogs removed from government hospitals
CHENNAI: Corporation of Chennai staff have removed 525 dogs from various government hospitals in the city with the help of volunteers of NGOs working in animal welfare. The animals will later be released to their old territories after sterilization.The drive comes after the body of a 12-day-old infant was eaten by
rodents at the government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and
Children in Triplicane.During the drive, launched with the
help of volunteers from the Blue Cross, Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty against Animals and the People for Animals, 16 cats and 3,048
rats have also been caught.Corporation commissioner D
Karthikeyan said, “We have been engaged in catching dogs, especially
from hospitals. But the main challenge is to leave them in the same
locality after sterilization.
rodents at the government Kasturba Gandhi Hospital for Women and
Children in Triplicane.During the drive, launched with the
help of volunteers from the Blue Cross, Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty against Animals and the People for Animals, 16 cats and 3,048
rats have also been caught.Corporation commissioner D
Karthikeyan said, “We have been engaged in catching dogs, especially
from hospitals. But the main challenge is to leave them in the same
locality after sterilization.
They will not be left on hospital
premises. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme will be implemented across the city.” Animal lovers said the dogs should be released in the same place.Blue Cross Society general manager Don Williams said, “According to ABC
rules, after sterilizing dogs we have to leave them at the place from
where we picked them up. Otherwise, dogs from other territories could
come there in search of food. This could pose a big threat to local
residents.
premises. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme will be implemented across the city.” Animal lovers said the dogs should be released in the same place.Blue Cross Society general manager Don Williams said, “According to ABC
rules, after sterilizing dogs we have to leave them at the place from
where we picked them up. Otherwise, dogs from other territories could
come there in search of food. This could pose a big threat to local
residents.
So it is better not to damage the balance of the habitat.”The organization said it had been vaccinating dogs since 1964 and the stray dog population has reduced drastically.But some residents are worried. “If the civic body plans to leave these
dogs in the same place after the sterilization, what is the point of
catching them?” asked a resident of Adyar.Following complaints
from residents, the corporation recently decided to permit more NGOs to
take part in the ABC programme in the city’s extended areas. Experts
say that though sterilization is a one-time effort, vaccinations need to
be carried out every year. During the first round, dogs are sterilized
and given anti-rabies shots.Their ears are notched so that they can be identified for follow-up action.
dogs in the same place after the sterilization, what is the point of
catching them?” asked a resident of Adyar.Following complaints
from residents, the corporation recently decided to permit more NGOs to
take part in the ABC programme in the city’s extended areas. Experts
say that though sterilization is a one-time effort, vaccinations need to
be carried out every year. During the first round, dogs are sterilized
and given anti-rabies shots.Their ears are notched so that they can be identified for follow-up action.