First dog census in city this year

Delayed by almost a year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to conduct a scientific census of dogs in the city in 2013-14.

Delayed by almost a year, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) plans to conduct a scientific census of dogs in the city in 2013-14.

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Dr Arun Bamne, executive health officer, public health department, BMC, said: “This will be the first specialised study of dogs in the city. So far, we have been working only on estimates. The census will help us in assessing the need for procurement of sterilisation equipment, recruitment of veterinary doctors and other measures.”

For the last two years, the civic body has been in touch with the Humane Society International, an agency that undertook a similar survey in Ahmedabad in 2010 to come up with detailed information on the population of dogs.

Going by the five-year norm on dog census, the programme should have begun in 2012.

“The decision on the final cost of the project, among other administrative issues, was pending. This has resulted in the delay,” said an official from the public health department, on condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

Rahul Sehgal, director, Humane Society International, Asia region, said; “The survey is aimed at the stray dog population in each zone in the city. The density of dogs in each zone would be determined in proportion with the human population and structures.”

The civic body had carried out a dog census in 2007. It was, however, a part of the larger animal census.