Stray dogs roamed freely in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday. , Photo Credit: KR Deepak
The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has requested the Animal Husbandry Department (AHD) of the state government to provide sterilization surgery facilities to stray dogs at its clinics in the city.
While the civic body has only one animal shelter at Arilova, the AHD has veterinary clinics at China Gadili, Gandhigram, Gopalapatnam and Gajuwaka as well as a veterinary polyclinic near Jagadamba Junction.
The civic body is planning to conduct surgeries on 15,000 stray dogs, including 8,000 female and 7,000 male dogs, using all operation theaters in collaboration with AHD. This process will start from 24 July.
Fifteen dog capture teams will also be deployed specifically for the programme, which will also include administering rabies vaccine to stray dogs, before releasing them back to the areas from where they were picked up.
“We used to do only up to 25 surgeries at our animal shelter in Arilova. Now, we will be able to do at least 150 surgeries daily to reach the target of around 15,000 stray dogs. Today we will hold a meeting on the sterilization program in the presence of the Mayor. We will be able to start the program from July 24,” GVMC Veterinary Officer Dr. N. Kishore told Hindu,
The GVMC has estimated that the entire operation will cost ₹5 lakh (₹250 for sterilization and vaccination of each dog).
The menace of stray dogs is highest in Arilova, Kancharapalem, Vepagunta, Bhimili, Anakapalle, Madhurawada, Sagar Nagar, Vishalakshinagar, Pendurthi, Gajuwaka, Gopalapatnam, Maharanipeta and Venkojipalem.
“We can control the menace of dogs by creating proper awareness among the citizens about maintaining the roads properly. Society needs a dog because it is an ancient method of controlling theft. Scientifically speaking, dogs are one of those animals that are part of our ecosystem,” Dr. Kishore said.