Public apathy to the rehabilitation of stray dogs is derailing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) operations in the Kochi Corporation, even as residents are increasingly complaining about the stray dog menace.
The efforts of the civic body to release the dogs came after ABC had to be abandoned due to public resistance, said T.K. Ashraf, chairman of the Health Standing Committee of the corporation. The civic body had earlier subjected around 40 stray dogs to the ABC programme.
However, attempts to release the canines back to their original area were met with stiff resistance from the local residents. Eventually, the dogs had to be released somewhere else, he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Street dog menace is a perennial problem faced by civic bodies across the State. The councillors of the Kochi Corporation were heard raising the issue many a time at the meetings of the Corporation Council. There were also complaints that the presence of street dogs in tourist centres was deterring visitors from exploring the land.
The corporation is not promoting the practice of killing street dogs as it will invite objections from animal lovers. The civic body will once again try the ABC programme as it is the only viable option left for them to control the population of street dogs, he said.
Shelter for straysADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
The ABC programme involves the vaccination of dogs against rabies and sterilisation. It also requires the safe custody of the animals for at least few days. They also had to be fed during their stay in the shelters.
The corporation had earlier prepared shelters at West Kochi and Brahmapuram areas and the programme was implemented in association with the veterinary department, he said.
Meanwhile, the civic body is moving ahead with its programme to vaccinate all pet dogs against rabies.