‘Expedite animal birth control programme’

The AIADMK and DMK councillors wanted the City Municipal Corporation to expedite Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme so that stray dog problem could be kept in check.

During the council meeting held here on April 24, many councillors complained of stray dog problem in their wards and asked the corporation to expedite the programme. They said that the residents were afraid of these dogs and asked the corporation to initiate action. They also wanted purchase of additional vans for transporting these dogs to the operative care centre at Veeranam compost yard.

Corporation Commissioner K.R. Selvaraj said that the new centre was constructed recently at a cost of Rs. 20 lakh and a vehicle was in use for transporting the dogs to the centre. He said that only by improving the facility and by appointing additional veterinarians, more dogs could be sterilised everyday.

He assured that the programme would be expedited in coming days.

Poor infrastructure

The programme was implemented in the corporation in 2007. However, poor infrastructure, stiff opposition from animal protection groups and absence of veterinarians, the programme could not be carried out effectively. Though the dog population in the city could be over 13,000, so far only around 1,500 dogs were sterilised. Currently, two veterinarians from Tiruchi were performing surgeries at Rs. 440 per dog at the centre.