The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Dog squads in a fix

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Apr 11, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Dog squads in a fix

Staff Reporter

Women's College hostel inmates want them to leave `friendly dogs'

HYDERABAD: While politicians and others made a beeline to Osmania University's College for Women in Koti on Tuesday, a day after stray dogs went on a biting spree to console victims, MCH dog squads faced a strange paradox.

The squads comprising 30 dogcatchers picked up 15 more dogs from within the college premises having commenced operations from the morning, bringing the total number of canines caught there in the last two days to 36.

However, according to Chief Veterinary Officer P. Venkateshwar Reddy, some of the girls staying in the hostels pleaded with the veterinary doctors and others not to take away all the dogs.

"In fact, they wanted us to give them some `friendly' dogs as they would serve as their guards. That food is given to dogs inside the college is a well known fact," he claimed.

Mr. Venkateshwar Reddy and his staff are now faced with tackling more number of panic calls from citizens following the incident, including crank calls.

His dog squads with able-bodied youngsters have never been more active, he said. "It is not an easy job, I can assure you, and there will be no deviation from their daily work of catching, neutering and vaccinating dogs in all places," he added.

Most dog attacks were due to "ignorance" on animal behaviour and urged the general public to inform MCH in case of any troublesome dogs or for free vaccinations, sterilisations and registrations of dogs for a small fee.

Crumbling wall

The MCH has been given the responsibility of ensuring proper sanitation in the college and well being of the students. Information Minister and District In-Charge Minister Mohd. Ali Shabbir said MCH would clean up the shrubby overgrowth and also remove the accumulated garbage from the college premises. A crumbling wall would also be re-built to prevent animals from entering.

Earlier, the students complained about bad drinking water, poor quality of food and lack of adequate security personnel for those living in hostels during nights. MCH Commissioner Sanjay Jaju requested the college management to give land for road widening with the promise to build up the substitute wall as per required specifications. Anjan Kumar Yadav, Secunderabad MP, M. Mukesh, Maharajganj MLA, and senior officials were present.

Meanwhile, State Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu notice of the dogs attack in the women's college at Koti and sought explanations from the college management and the MCH.

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