The BBMP would have to employ multipronged strategies to control the dog population, including reproduction control with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme
Other than spreading stench and various communicable diseases, garbage is clearly contributing to the increase in the city’s stray dog population, besides a concomitant rise in cases of bites and rabies.
The first breeding cycle (December to February) is already under way. With heaps of garbage lying uncleared across the city, there is no shortage of food for strays. Easy availability of food is bound to increase the fertility and fecundity among female dogs that have not been sterilised, points out Parvez Ahmad Piran, Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP).
He told The Hindu these may well produce more pups, contributing to the multifold increase in the dog population. As per the 2007 census, the dog population in the city was 3.27 lakh, including 1.83 lakh strays and 1.43 lakh pets. “This year, I have urged the Animal Husbandry Department to include dogs also in the livestock census that is currently under way.”
The BBMP would have to employ multipronged strategies to control the dog population, including reproduction control with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, movement control (by dropping the strays back in the same location after sterilisation), habitat control (deploying mobile units in slums, black spots and garbage dumps). “With increase in garbage on the streets, the food availability for strays has increased,” Dr. Piran said.
Rabies cases
He, however, said with the success of ABC programme, the number of reported rabies cases had come down from 12 in 2007-08 to just 1 in 2012-13. The ratio of number of bites per 1,000 persons has also come down. In 2001-02 (in the erstwhile Bangalore Mahanagara Palike), the ratio was 2.2 bites per 1,000 persons. This has come down significantly to 1.2 bites per 1,000 in 2011-12.
But, with the increase in dog population, the bites may increase. Dog bites are usually attributed to sexual aggression, maternal aggression and aggression due to rabies. These three factors can be taken care of by intensifying ABC and anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) programmes. “However, some dogs bite due to provocation, territorial aggression and aggression due to food (i.e., disturbing dogs when they are feeding). The citizens have to take precautions and prevent these,” he added.
Keywords: Bangalore garbage problem, stray dogs, dog breeding cycle, BBMP, Animal Birth Control Programme
In my opinion all street dogs should be culled. If some animal activist
protests against this, then they should raise the dogs in their houses.
What are street dogs? They are not domestic dogs, they are not tamed.
They are simply wild dogs that threaten civilians.
We should have very strict rules. Proper dog licenses should be made,
any dog without a license should be taken to animal care and taken care
there. If dogs are unhealthy and unstable, cull them. If healthy, feed
them and keep them in an enclosed shelter. It need not be a cage, can
be a big farm.
We should improve our animal care. Animal loving activists should
protest for better animal care facilities and not for letting wild dogs
on the streets live. Dogs on the street should stop. There is no point
spending tax payers money to sterilize dogs! That is not the solution.
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