The Hindu : MCD adopts new method to catch stray dogs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 20, 2003

Other States

Other States - New Delhi

MCD adopts new method to catch stray dogs

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI JUNE 19. In association with non-government organisations (NGOs), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi today launched a new campaign to tackle the menace of stray dogs in the city by adopting a "more humane, efficient and animal-friendly'' method.

The new methodology, called "sack and loop'' method -- which has been successfully used in Jaipur -- would help the MCD in solving the problem of stray dogs here in the next couple of years, said the Municipal Commissioner, Rakesh Mehta, after the demonstration of this newly-adopted animal-friendly system.

During the hour-long demonstration, the trained staff of MCD caught as many as 22 stray dogs in and around the Minto Road area this morning. Under the new method, Mr. Mehta said they had fixed a target of catching and sterlising at least 12,000 stray canines per annum.

Under the "sack and loop'' method -- the training for which is being provided by the Jaipur-based NGO, "Help in Suffering'' -- the device used is a strong canvas in the form of a sack. It has a smooth rope not less than 5.5 metres in length passing through ten or more rings of not less than 4 cm each in diameter. Each ring is attached at the open end thus forming a loop. The sack has a small hole at a convenient place to enable the animal to breathe during captivity. The dog is captured by the sack being thrown on it and secured by having the rope pulled.

In the new method, Mr. Mehta said, the dog is caught unawares and does not have a chance to bark as is the case in the grasper method which had potential to cause injury. Thus, while catching the dog in the field, other dogs do not get alerted and run away. "Maximum number of dogs can be caught from a particular area in the least possible time thereby increasing the efficiency of field staff,'' he said.

Along with the drive, four shelters have started functioning at the four Veterinary Hospitals at Prehladpur, Tilangpur Kotla, Gazipur, Tughlakabad. Among the four NGOs who have joined hands with the MCD in this drive are Sanjay Gandhi Animal Care Centre, Raja Garden; Friendicos-Seca, Defence Colony; Circle of Animal Lovers, Neb Sarai and Sonadi Charitable Trust, Najafgarh.

Mr. Mehta said under the drive, they would adopt ''area approach'' and try to approach parts of the Capital one by one to catch and sterlise the stray dogs. "This is because, dogs have a regional territorial movement,'' he said.

Support for tackling the stray dog menace has started coming from various quarters. The Union Environment and Forests Ministry has given a financial assistance of Rs. 22 lakhs to the MCD.

Also the Indian Immunological Limited of National Dairy Development Board has offered its vaccine -- Rakshak Rab -- free to the civic body for this purpose.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Other States

Stories in this Section

MCD adopts new method to catch stray dogs

NDPL puts billing data on Net

Pregnant woman killed

Extortionist nabbed

Study on feasibility of vaccinations

DDA to develop shopping malls

Anomalies in recruitment of AIIMS doctors alleged

Khurana alleges malpractices in scheme implementation

Bank of Punjab goes hi tech