The Kerala government decision to step up the sterilisation of stray dogs following the death of a woman who was attacked by a pack of savage canines has been widely welcomed, but experts say infrastructural and manpower limitations and lack of coordination between different agencies will make it an uphill task for local bodies to take up the programme.
Dealing with the public clamour for culling of stray dogs is likely to be the first challenge for the government. A proposal to cull aggressive and rabid dogs has run into strong opposition from the Animal Welfare Board of India.
“There are no quick fix solutions. A long-term project involving the government, local bodies, and non-governmental organisations will be needed to bring the stray dog menace under control,” says N.N. Sasi, Director, Animal Husbandry.
“It may take more than five years for the programme to show results.”
But experts say majority of local bodies are ill-equipped to take up the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for sterilisation and vaccination of strays.
“It needs surgical facilities at the district and taluk level, vaccine stocks, trained dog catchers, and veterinary surgeons,” says Ramakumar V., former secretary, Veterinary Council of India. “Stray dog menace can be brought under control through a multipronged approach involving sterilisation and vaccination as well as solid waste management, curbs on illegal slaughter of animals and licensing of pet dogs,” he says.
Dr. Sasi says the department is thinking of setting up temporary surgical tents at the taluk level to speed up the project. About 250 veterinary surgeons have been trained in sterilisation of dogs, he says.
