Civic body begins drive to sterilize stray dogs

In order to control the number of stray dogs in the city, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has begun a sterilization drive from April 1.

In order to control the number of stray dogs in the city, the Municipal Corporation of Gurgaon (MCG) has begun a sterilization drive from April 1.

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“We have started the drive as a pro-active measure to check the stray dog population in Gurgaon,” said Dr Sumit Dhankhar, medical officer, MCG.

The corporation has deputed two NGOs - People for Animals (PFA) and Friendicoes - to catch stray dogs in the city, sterilize them and leave them back in the same area. Old Gurgaon areas are being looked after by the PFA, while New Gurgaon is under Friendicoes. The NGOs are paid Rs. 545 for catching and sterilizing one dog.

“In a month, more than 150 dogs are caught from entire Gurgaon. The dogs are identified and brought for sterilization. Once they are operated, their right ear is cut as an identification mark,” Dhankhar added.

He said that the canines below six months of age and pregnant bitches with a grown-up foetus are not operated upon.

According to Amit Chaudhery, president of PFA, checking dog population is not as daunting as it is to catch pigs and monkeys.

Equipment such as Y-poles (a long stick that has a ‘Y’ shaped end) and nets are used to catch dogs.

In 2011 between June and December, the MCG had spent more than Rs. 25 lakh on capturing and sterilizing dogs and monkeys. In response to an RTI query filed by a resident, the MCG revealed that 4388 dogs and 188 monkeys were captured and sterilized with the help of the NGOs.