Tamil Nadu - Salem   

Animal birth control programme begins

Special Correspondent

There are 5,925 stray dogs and 2,540 animals that are said to be pets

TO REDUCE NUMBERS: Salem Corporation began a birth control exercise for stray dogs on Friday. Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini looks on. — Photo: P. Goutham

SALEM: Salem Corporation has undertaken the massive task of controlling the burgeoning stray dog population by adopting the Animal Birth Control (ABC) procedure of sterilising male and female dogs.

Corporation statistics say there are 5,925 stray dogs along with 2,540 animals claimed to be reared in households.

Health and Veterinarary authorities will sterilise and vaccinate these street marauders and intern them for seven days in the SPCA's Hasthampatti Dog kennel for post-operative care.

Those trained in the lancer method will be employed to ensnare these animals that bit and sent nearly 1,800 victims a month to the Salem Government Hospital for anti-rabies' treatment.

After the treatment, the dog would be released. The expenses per dog comes to Rs. 445. The government has sanctioned Rs. 26.38 lakhs. Operation Dog will be completed in three months.

Corporation Health Officer Dr. Gemini pointed out that veterinarians would carry out the sterilisation process.

As per the Animal Birth Control Rules 201 of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 crude killing of homeless dogs by individuals and civic bodies is prohibited. Neutralising the stray dog menace according to the law should be scientific and the WHO recommended ABC programme should be adhered to. Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini inaugurated the exercise here on Friday.

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