BBMP puts to sleep 4,185 dogs; 200 under observation

BBMP puts to sleep 4,185 dogs; 200 under observation

By Satish Shile,DH News Service,Bangalore:



The BBMP has euthanised 3,985 dogs as part of Animal Birth Control programme and 200 dogs in response to complaints received from the public.

Dog population in Bangalore City has come down by 4,185 in the last one year. Curious to know how? The BBMP has euthanised these dogs as they were diagnosed with incurable diseases. According to statistics available with the Palike, 3,985 dogs were euthanised as part of Animal Birth Control programme and 200 dogs in response to complaints received from the public.

Most of the dogs which the Palike euthanised were suffering from distemper, the most dreaded disease of dogs. The disease is caused by germs and dogs generally develop this in the first year of life. It is an incurable disease, said Deputy Director of Animal Husbandry (BBMP) Dr Prakash Reddy.

Dogs are euthanised by injecting pentathol sodium, an anaesthetic, into their body. Within a few seconds of injecting the chemical, the animal dies without feeling pain. According to sources in the Palike, carcasses of dogs are disposed along with municipal solid waste as there is no separate crematorium for animals in the City.









‘Ferocious’ dogs

The Palike has kept 200 “ferocious” dogs under observation. Dr Reddy said even if dogs show symptoms of rabies the Palike cannot euthanise them. They will be kept in dog pounds under observation till they die naturally. “Whenever we receive complaints of dog menace from the public our staff will catch dogs if necessary. They will be sterilised and vaccinated for rabies.”

In the financial year 2007-08 the Palike conducted animal birth control programme in all its eight zones at a cost of Rs 2.11 crore. As many as 47,447 dogs were sterilised. In the first phase, Ahmedabad-based Animal Help Foundation conducted ABC using CNVR (Catch Neuter Vaccinate Release) technique for 5,052 dogs in five new zones under a pilot project.

Later the same foundation was granted contract to hold ABC in Bommanahalli and Mahadevpura zones. Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), an NGO, conducted the programme in Byatarayanapura and parts of old-BMP area as well. Other NGOs Karuna, Animal Rights Fund (ARF) did the programme in other parts of the city.
The Palike received 277 complaints from the public in the year. Out of them, 201 were general complaints which included dogs barking throughout the night, disturbing residents. As many as 76 were complaints regarding dog menace. Responding to these complaints, the Palike euthanised 200 dogs and kept 11 under observation.


STATISTICS

* Dogs caught: 53,090
* Sterilised: 47,447
* Vaccinated: 82,523
* Euthanised: 4,185