Improper garbage disposal mechanism was affecting the Animal Birth Control programme for stray dogs, said Mini Vasudevan of Humane Animal Society, a non governmental organisation (NGO), which has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Coimbatore Corporation to sterilise dogs.
Ms. Mini Vasudevan said that the lone facility at Seeranaickenpalayam for performing surgeries on stray dogs was proving to be grossly inadequate because of the garbage problem and increase in dog population in added areas of the corporation.
Target
Though the target was nearly 250 to 300 surgeries a month, achieving the target was hit by financial constraints, lack of manpower and vehicles.
She said the proposal to set up a centre at Ukkadam should be implemented at the earliest.
According to a MoU the corporation vehicles and its manpower would be used to capture stray dogs, bring them to Seeranaickenpalayam, and release them at the respective places after performing surgeries.
Unfortunately the society was not getting the assistance.
Now, the society was forced to use its own manpower and vehicles to handle the animals.
The Animal Welfare Board of India in 2002 had fixed the cost of sterilising a dog at Rs. 445.
The amount was insufficient to meet the increasing cost of medicine, suture expenses, hiring of staff, and salary to doctor.
The amount was fixed when the salary of a veterinarian was Rs. 10,000. Now it stood at Rs. 35,000. All other expenses too had gone up manifold.
The total cost of sterilising a dog was now Rs. 600 to Rs. 750.
Due
Bills amounting to Rs. 2.2 lakh due to the society was pending with the corporation, Ms. Mini Vasudevan said.
The civic body should help the society keep the shelter at Seeranaickenpalayam spick and span.
Ms. Mini Vasudevan said that the society, with the help of four rotary clubs, had mobilised Rs. 1.5 lakh to vaccinate 4,000 dogs.
Corporation Deputy Commissioner S. Sivarasu said that steps would be taken to settle the bills and provide necessary assistance to the society.
Steps would be taken to open another facility at Ukkadam soon.
