The Times of India 10.08.2010
Trial run for dog census begins in city
AHMEDABAD: Trial runs for the first ever dog census in the city began in Bodakdev ward on Monday. This ward is among 16 randomly selected wards for the counting exercise.
The exercise is being conducted by an international organisation, Humane Society International (HSI), free of cost in association with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC).
Technical advisor of HSI for dog census, Jack Reece says, “The city has many advantages for a comprehensive dog census. In the survey, 16 wards have been randomly selected out of 64 municipal wards. It would be sample survey as it is humanly not possible to count to every dog within the city limits.”
“The team comprising eight persons will identify one ward at a time and the census will be conducted within three days. The team will visit different roads in selected wards during morning and late night hours,” said Reece. This is Reece’s first visit to the city.
The wards that HSI authorities have selected include urban areas, semi-urban areas, rural areas and city periphery.
However, incessant rains might prolong census exercise in the city as stray dogs keep themselves hidden in their shelters at this time. Reece says, “AMC has a detailed information on all the 64 municipal wards including human population, street length, garbage disposal system among others. Once the dog counting exercise concludes, we can also relate the data of dog population to other factors in individual wards for analysis and suggesting suitable remedial measures.”
He believes dog census is a sensible approach for a robust animal birth control programme in the city.
The selected eight surveyors underwent HSI’s training programme. An HSI official said, “The selected individuals have volunteered for the counting exercise. Interestingly, all of them come from diverse backgrounds and have regular jobs.”
The surveyors will mark the dogs in different categories including male, female, puppy, sterilised dogs with their ear notched.
