A day after MC commissioner Vivek Pratap Singh admitted that the civic body had “completely failed” in the stray dog sterilisation programme, it has now come to fore that both NGOs — People for Animals (PFA) and Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) — given the job in March 2013 could sterilise only 932 dogs in the two years since. But no target was set.
No wonder, the number of stray dogs in the city has increased manifold. The number is around 8,000 as per the MC, but councillors and officials in the animal husbandry department of the administration peg it at over 10,000.
Till December 2013, the MC was paying `775 for sterilisation of each dog, but they were able to sterilise only 652 dogs that year. In January last year, the MC increased it to `1,000 per dog. Yet the stray dogs’ population continued to multiply.
Dr MS Kamboj, superintendent, slaughter house, MC, said, “Both the NGOs proved an utter failure, and despite our several meetings with them they failed to yield any results. Now we hope that the SPCA, Udgir (Maharashtra), will do the sterilisation programme aggressively.”
What now?
After a tendering process, officials said, the Udgir SPCA from Maharashtra has been assigned the work with a target of 450 dogs per month.
Dr Parminder Singh Bhatti, medical officer, MC, said a team of 10 led by two doctors would reach Chandigarh “in the next couple of days” and start work from April 6. “We will be paying them `972 per dog, and one vehicle will be given to them, as per the memorandum of understanding,” he said. Payment would be made after checking the dogs, and for that a committee has been constituted by the MC.
As for the method, Dr Bhatti said it would be as per the Animal Birth Control Act. “After sterilisation, there will be ear notching of the dog, paint on the back, and collar around the neck.” The contract with the NGO has been signed for a year.
{{/usCountry}}As for the method, Dr Bhatti said it would be as per the Animal Birth Control Act. “After sterilisation, there will be ear notching of the dog, paint on the back, and collar around the neck.” The contract with the NGO has been signed for a year.
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