Move to set up multi-specialty vet hospital

: The Ernakulam District Panchayat will set up a multi-specialty veterinary hospital and proposes to expend its plan fund to make land available for the facility, Eldhose Kunnappilly, District Panchayat president, said here on Wednesday.

Speaking at a meet of grama panchayat and block panchayat presidents, NGOs and various officials called to end the stray dog menace, he said the construction would start immediately if any local body volunteers to set up the hospital. Though some panchayats had shown willingness in this regard, this could not be processed due to resistance at the local level.

According to him, sterilization of dogs will be one of the activities to be taken up at the proposed hospital.

He said that currently there are no centres in the State for giving training in catching street dogs and sterilizing them. “If grama panchayats suggest names of people who can be trained in this regard including doctors, they would be sent to Ootty for 12 days’training at the expense of the district panchayat,”

A meeting of animal lovers would be convened on Friday at District Panchayat to give concrete shape to this end. The participants at the meeting demanded that the local bodies must ensure licences for dogs. They also felt that littering in public and unhygienic slaughter houses led to the proliferation of street dogs.

Chaotic scenes

Meanwhile, the meeting witnessed some chaotic scenes, following a quarrel between the animal lovers and other attendees of the meeting.

The spat began when the animal lovers led by TV Personality Ranjini Haridas, took objection to a veterinary doctor’s suggestion to eliminate street dogs. In protest, a couple of animal lovers led by Ranjini Haridas stormed the stage and demanded sterilization of stray dogs. She further criticised the local bodies for their failure in adopting scientific measures to check the menace. The statement drew a sharp reaction from representatives of the local bodies, who demanded withdrawal of her statement. Following this, Mr. Kunnappally intervened to restore order.

A couple of animal lovers led by Ranjini Haridas stormed the stage and demanded sterilization of stray dogs.