M’lore: First dog census in city in September

 

Mangalore, 27 Aug 2014: In a first for the city, the Animal Care Trust, which has been providing care and shelter to abandoned, sick, stray animals at ’Vatsalya’ in Shakthinagar, will conduct dog census from the second week of September.

 

Disclosing this while submitting a memorandum to Dr Ganesh S Pai, Managing Trustee, ACT said: The census will help us achieve three objectives - first it will establish how many dogs are there in the corporation area, the location of these dogs with numbers in each ward and thirdly it will spot areas where there are dog packs and corporation can initiate necessary action like removal of bins etc.

 

Dr Pai also said that Mangalore City Corporation should introduce licencing of pet dogs mandatorily which will help sterilize dogs. A sterilized dog can be easily identified since its right ear has a wedge shaped cut.

 

While meeting the mayor Mahabala Marla, Dr Pai demanded formation of dog watch committee as stipulated under Rule 4 of the Dog Rules 2001. He also said that a common help line to streamline dog complaints is required, he added observing that Mayor was receptive.

 

He also said all corporators must visit the Trust shelter at Shakthinagar during surgeries and must also be with the dog van during catches in their respective wards. Suma Ramesh, one of the ACT trustees, said: During the ABC programmes staff face harassment at the hands of public especially during release of dogs back into their respective localities. The release of dogs in the same area they are caught is mandated by law. There are cases where our staff are abused and also manhandled.

 

She urged mayor to give protection to ACT staff and vehicles during the time of release by deputing a health inspector during the release of dogs.

 

Pointing out that open garbage bins were the main cause of this menace, apart from other problems, Dr Pai told Mayor to remove permanently bins and trash within five km radius of school, college and mosques areas. This will avoid thick population stray dogs in the respective areas, he added.