Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Boy's death blamed on stray dog menace

Special Correspondent

COIMBATORE: A three-year-old boy's death after being mauled by stray dogs has brought the focus back on the menace of packs of canines prowling the streets. Ajit was mauled by dogs while playing outside his house at Selvapuram here two weeks ago.

The boy was admitted to the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital but died on Saturday after he was taken back home. Relatives of the boy gathered at the hospital and alleged poor treatment.

Measures inadequate

Hospital authorities rejected this charge and contended that proper treatment had been given. The relatives then vent their ire on the Coimbatore Corporation. They alleged that measures to check the menace were inadequate.

Only about 10 days did councillors express fears over risk from stray dogs.

Sterilisation

Corporation officials said that sterilisation would help reduce the number of dogs on the streets and there was a law against killing them.

The councillors, however, were not convinced.

They asked the officials whether a guarantee that the dogs would not bite after sterilisation could be given.

Plea to Mayor

Not convinced by replies to this question, the councillors appealed to the Mayor, R. Venkatachalam, for measures to keep stray dogs in a shelter away from human habitation.

The dogs need not be killed. But they could be protected in a place where they did not pose a risk to people.

This could be done even as the sterilisation process was on, the members said.

The councillors were of the view that sterilisation alone was no solution to the problem.

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