HYDERABAD: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has paid Rs. 500 towards compensation to each of the 13 victims of dog bites as per the High Court order but its relationship with the Animal Help Foundation (AHF) continues to be rocky.

The AHF, Ahmedabad-based non-governmental organisation, has been contracted to catch and neuter up to 3,000 stray dogs in three months in erstwhile MCH Circle I as a pilot project. And nearly a month after the AHF had begun its drive, GHMC officials are not too impressed with the work. They believe there is nothing new to learn from the 14-member AHF team in terms of sterilisations or other work.

"We feel humiliated. When the technique of conducting operations is the same what is it that we have to learn? They use nets to catch dogs, that is the only difference," argues a senior health and sanitation official.

The AHF had promised to `train' GHMC's veterinary staff in the ABC method.GHMC officials, however, feel there is no big secret in the method. To it credit, the AHF has not been way off the mark, having caught and neutered up to 800 dogs as the first 30-day period ends. But, GHMC officials remain unconvinced. They feel the price paid to the AHF is simply not worth it.

"We have paid them Rs. 4.45 lakh in advance costing up to Rs. 450 a dog to the AHF. We catch 100 dogs a day in all other six MCH circles and it costs us only Rs. 100 a dog to be caught and sterilised," says the official.

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