The City Corporation’s attempts to control the stray dog population in the city has suffered numerous early setbacks, but an idea mooted few months ago – to rope in the expertise of an external agency – may materialise in a month’s time.
In February, the Corporation had invited Expressions of Interest (EoI) from organisations able to carry out the Animal Birth Control programme across the city.
The Humane Society International (HSI) had responded and representatives of the group may come to the city on July 17 to finalise the terms and conditions of the project and sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The few tried and tested models of controlling the population of street dogs involved a dedicated team of doctors and handlers carrying out the sterilisation surgery regularly over a long period of time. One example is the intensive programme carried out by the Blue Cross in Chennai, a few years ago. Despite there being such a grave problem in the capital, a solid sterilisation programme has failed to take off.
Soon after an MoU is signed, the HSI will begin with the first phase of the project which is to take a census of the number of dogs in Corporation wards.
There have been overblown figures floating around so the group intends to clarify this and then focus on those areas where the problem seems most acute, said a Corporation official. “For the survey, they will focus on around 10 locations in wards where most complaints have been reported, for instance, Medical College. The dogs will be marked for easier identification,” they added.
Once a total number is estimated, two or three veterinary surgeons affiliated with the group and have practice carrying out the surgery quickly will move to the capital. It is up to the Corporation to give them the space and other facilities to work with.
The Thiruvallam and Pettah veterinary hospital have been identified for the programme and it will be carried out without interfering with the daily activities at these centres. Veterinary doctors in the capital may also be engaged in the project, so that in time, they can be put in charge of the project and the staff brought by HSI can be sent back.
