In an attempt to control stray dog menace, the Mandya City Municipal Council (CMC) has decided to catch all the stray dogs in and around the city and let them out in the forest                         areas.

The decision, which was taken in Wednesday’s council meeting, clearly violates the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Sources said shifting the stray dogs into the forest would endanger other wild animals.

All 35 councillors said that they are ready to go to jail or lose their membership for supporting the decision to release the stray dogs in to the forest. During the meeting, JD (S) councillor M J Chikkanna said that the CMC has failed to control the menace, resulting in the public being regularly attacked.

He also cited examples of how stray dogs from Srirangaptna and Pandavapura were caught and released in to the forest.

CMC President B Siddaraju said the civic body had stopped transporting stray dogs to the forest areas due due to intervention from animal rights organisations.  Councillor Ravindra said, “If we wait for a decision, it will take another few years and by then the term of the council will be over.”

CMC Commissioner Dasegowda said there are around 5,000 stray dogs in the city.

Dog catchers from K R Nagar were earlier given the job of leaving the dogs in forest, but due to protests from animal activists that was stopped. 

“We have identified five forest areas  near Muthathi, Kiranduru, Melkote and Chamarajanagar border  where the dogs can be shifted,” he said.