The Times of India 09.04.2013
Mobile van to treat street dogs
BHUBANESWAR: Providing a boost to dog sterilization programme
in Bhubaneswar, the government has decided to procure a 'mobile
operation theatre van', which will operate on stray dogs in the streets.
As of now, the dogs are being caught and brought to the veterinary
hospital at Saheed Nagar to undergo sterilization.
Sources said Nalco has donated Rs 15 lakh to the animal resources development department for the purchase of the air-conditioned van, fitted with modern instruments and healthcare facilities for stray animals in distress.
"We have received the donation from Nalco and placed the order for purchase of the modern van. The vehicle will not only help us sterilize dogs anywhere in the streets, but also come to the rescue of injured stray animals on roads," said Dr S B Swain, nodal officer of animal birth control programme at the Saheed Nagar veterinary polyclinic.
The van can be used by other districts too. "The van will rush to those areas where dog sterilization clinics are not available," Dr Swain said.
The city has witnessed an explosion in the population of stray dogs over the past few years. Sources said the population of stray dogs and cattle at present stands at around 22,000 and 9,000, respectively. The city was home to around 15,000 dogs in 2008. Pedestrians and bikers have been complaining of danger from dogs at night. Not long ago, chief minister Naveen Patnaik too expressed irritation at growling stray dogs during an interaction with the media in the state secretariat here. The dogs kept barking outside the secretariat, distracting Naveen's attention.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been providing Rs 10 lakh to the veterinary hospital at Saheed Nagar ever since the dog sterilization programme started in Bhubaneswar in 2008. BMC had entrusted some NGOs to carry out the job. But finding little result, the BMC handed over the responsibility to the veterinary clinic in June 2008. A little over 8,000 dogs, including nearly 2,800 female canines, have been sterilized so far, sources said. Sterilization of each dog costs Rs 500. About 40 dogs are being sterilized in a week. Dogs between the age group of 6-7 years come under the sterilization process. A stray dog has a lifespan of around 12 years.
There was a proposal in 2010 to modernize the Saheed Nagar polyclinic. Though the housing and urban development department recently released Rs 30 lakh to BMC to purchase new equipment for faster birth control operations of stray dogs, it is still a non-starter.
Sources said Nalco has donated Rs 15 lakh to the animal resources development department for the purchase of the air-conditioned van, fitted with modern instruments and healthcare facilities for stray animals in distress.
"We have received the donation from Nalco and placed the order for purchase of the modern van. The vehicle will not only help us sterilize dogs anywhere in the streets, but also come to the rescue of injured stray animals on roads," said Dr S B Swain, nodal officer of animal birth control programme at the Saheed Nagar veterinary polyclinic.
The van can be used by other districts too. "The van will rush to those areas where dog sterilization clinics are not available," Dr Swain said.
The city has witnessed an explosion in the population of stray dogs over the past few years. Sources said the population of stray dogs and cattle at present stands at around 22,000 and 9,000, respectively. The city was home to around 15,000 dogs in 2008. Pedestrians and bikers have been complaining of danger from dogs at night. Not long ago, chief minister Naveen Patnaik too expressed irritation at growling stray dogs during an interaction with the media in the state secretariat here. The dogs kept barking outside the secretariat, distracting Naveen's attention.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been providing Rs 10 lakh to the veterinary hospital at Saheed Nagar ever since the dog sterilization programme started in Bhubaneswar in 2008. BMC had entrusted some NGOs to carry out the job. But finding little result, the BMC handed over the responsibility to the veterinary clinic in June 2008. A little over 8,000 dogs, including nearly 2,800 female canines, have been sterilized so far, sources said. Sterilization of each dog costs Rs 500. About 40 dogs are being sterilized in a week. Dogs between the age group of 6-7 years come under the sterilization process. A stray dog has a lifespan of around 12 years.
There was a proposal in 2010 to modernize the Saheed Nagar polyclinic. Though the housing and urban development department recently released Rs 30 lakh to BMC to purchase new equipment for faster birth control operations of stray dogs, it is still a non-starter.
