The Hindu 28.10.2010
Dogs rule the streets
Staff Reporter
On the prowl:Stray dog menace remains unchecked in Erode town.
ERODE: The number of people, particularly school students, falling victims to hungry dogs is on the rise in Erode town and its suburbs.
The Government Hospital here gets 50 to 75 persons every day seeking treatment for dog bite.
“We even witnesses over 100 cases sometimes. Among them, 20 per cent to 30 per cent are children,” doctors at the hospital point out. The actual number, hospital authorities said, could be much higher. People in many residential colonies in the town live in constant fear and hesitate to venture out after dark because of the presence of a large number of stray dogs.
A few days ago, residents of Veerappan Chatram were shocked to see a pack of stray dogs attacking two school students. Another school boy in Sambath Nagar was bitten by stray dogs last week.
“At least 20 to 25 dogs can be found on every street in the town. They feast on overflowing dust bins and un-cleared garbage, chase the children, knock them down on the streets, and cause serious injuries,” a senior citizen here points out. Over 20 dogs can be seen even on the Government Hospital premises.
Visitors and patients to the hospital are taken by surprise, as dogs chasing each other suddenly dart across the paths, doctors point out.
Erode Corporation officials say that they are implementing the Animal Birth Control programme for dogs through an animal welfare agency.
“Surgeries were performed on dogs to control population,” Commissioner B. Balachandran says. People, however, have expressed disappointment over the measures taken by the Corporation as the population of stray dogs is fast growing despite the sterilisation programme. “Even after sterilisation, dogs are left to roam freely on the streets. Sterilisation does not prevent dogs from chasing and biting children,” says Kathirvel, an insurance advisor.
