Tamil Nadu   

New sterilisation method planned for male dogs

Staff Reporter

Injection of cadmium chloride simpler than surgery: Minister

CHENNAI: The State Government plans to strengthen the stray dog birth control programme by employing a new method of sterilisation, Health Minister K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran said on Tuesday.

"Male dogs can be sterilised through injection of cadmium chloride. This procedure is simpler than birth control surgery," he said at a workshop held here on rabies prevention and stray dog control.

The right dosage of the chemical destroys the reproductive function of a male dog.

The Minister said Tamil Nadu had at least 20 lakh stray dogs. The Government spent Rs. 5.28 crore on stray dog birth control every year.

The Local Administration Department and the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University will take up the programme to introduce the method. Its efficacy would first be tested in Chennai.

Mr. Ramachandran urged people to make use of the free treatment offered by government hospitals for dog bites. "Every year, the State spends Rs. 19 crore on free treatment for dog bites." Statistics from the Health Department showed that 241 persons died of rabies in 2005; 233 in 2004 and 164 in 2003.

The participants, who included veterinarians, Animal Welfare Board representatives and members of voluntary organisations, brought out recommendations for an efficient animal birth control programme. A monitoring committee at the block level was needed to oversee the implementation, they said. The programme was organised by the Department of Public Health.

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