SURAT: Animal Welfare Board of India
(AWBI) has ordered suspension of the dog sterilization programme being
carried out in the city by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC).

The suspension comes after TOI brought to light the shoddy process of
sterilization as a result of which the dogs were dying. The board asked
SMC to discontinue the suspension till AWBI conducts an inquiry into the issue.

TOI had reported that dogs in Udhna and adjoining areas were dying
after their stitches opened resulting in excessive bleeding. When
questioned, the SMC authorities maintained that the process is being
carried out with due care.

On Friday, S Vinod Kumar, assistant
secretary, AWBI, shot a letter to SMC commissioner Manoj Das to suspend
the animal birth control (ABC) project. The letter highlights the grim
situation of the programme.

AWBI expressed concern over the death of dogs due to rupture of intestine post the operation.

The board took cognizance of TOI’s July 5 news report in which the
issue was highlighted. Two dogs died in Udhna after being sterilized.
Local NGO Prayas tried to save them but in vain. One of dogs was brought
to Nandini Veterinary Hospital by volunteers of Prayas but excessive
bleeding claimed its life.

From July 5 to July 19, seven dogs
were found in poor condition after being sterilized of which four died
while three were cured. On July 25, one more dog was found from Ambika
Niketan area with open stitches and intestine spilling out. The dog was
chased by a mob of around 20 people but rescued by Prayas after a call
by Dhaval Patel, a shop owner in the area. The dog died before it could
be operated upon due to excessive bleeding.

Animal lovers in the
city were surprised over the dog’s rescue from Ambika Niketan area as
the ABC programme is permitted only in Udhna area, that too on trial
basis. Ambika Niketan is around seven km away from Udhna.

AWBI
had also asked district collector A J Shah to inquire into the issue on
July 18. However, as there was no action by the collectorate, the board
ordered suspension of the ABC progamme.Despite repeated attempts, Shah was unavailable for comments.