NASHIK: The contract of
the Latur-based Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA),
Udgir, appointed by the Nashik Municipal Corporation ( NMC)
in December for sterilising stray dogs in the city, has been extended
for another month. The contract came to an end on March 31.

The Animal Welfare Board of India
approved NGO began with the sterilisation of the city strays on an
experimental basis for a period of three months starting January. The SPCA is already doing a similar kind of work in the Pune Municipal Corporation ( PMC).

The civic body had given a target of sterilising 1,000 dogs in three
months for a payment of Rs 700 per dog. As per the figures obtained from
the health department, the NGO has crossed the target. However, the
decision of its appointment on a regular basis will be taken after the
April end.

“The contract came to an end on March 31 but the NGO
has been given an extension of one more month. Till date they have
sterilised 1,288 dogs – 517 males and 769 females,” said veterinary
officer Pramod Sonawane.

On the backdrop of the recent spurt in
the dog bite incidents, the health officials said the dogs were
sterilised based on the complaints that were received from the citizens,
besides the regular sterilisation conducted by the SPCA.

“We
cannot say which area has the maximum number of strays. We act on the
complaints we get. Also, while picking up the dogs, one cannot say for
sure if they are rabid,” the officials said. They said they were trying
to sterilise and vaccinate as many dogs as possible.

According to the data provided by the Civil Hospital, the cases of dog bites and deaths have gone down in the past two years.

In 2011, there were 3,919 cases of dog bites and 15 deaths, while in 2012 there were 3,336 such cases and seven deaths.

Sources in the hospital said that since January this year, there has
not been a single death due to dog bite among the 3-4 cases reported.