Sans dog pound, MC fails to leash ferocious canines

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 24

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation has failed to catch aggressive dogs as it has no dog pounds. Last week, stray dogs mauled a one-and-a-half-year-old boy to death at a park in Sector 18 here.

An official in the Municipal Corporation’s Medical Officer of Health office said: “We cannot catch any pet dog that is not registered as we do not have our own dog pound. Even stray dogs, which are ferocious or aggressive, could not be caught and put in pounds as required. We seldom catch such dogs and send them to a Sector 38-based NGO of animal shelter.”

Avinash Singh Sharma, president of the Pravasi Bhalai Sangathan, said: “The Municipal Corporation has no dog pound and it is not catching ferocious dogs. Lives of several other children are also in danger as such dogs can be seen roaming freely in several areas. Even no proper tagging of sterilised dogs is being done. In the name of sterilisation, vaccination and maintenance, they are just making money.”

Officials said earlier there was a proposal to build a dog pound. But in the absence of available land and feasibility, it was put on hold.

“No land could be found in the city. It would have required a staff and funds to maintain things,” said the officials.

Mayor Davesh Moudgil said: “Attempts were made earlier to have a dog pound. I have even talked to the Panchkula Commissioner as it was planned to be built there earlier. But it could not be built as dogs are territorial animals. So it is not possible to keep them for longer time. However, we are studying models where it has been implemented. We will also request resident welfare associations to take extra caution in terms of feeding dogs. We are also identifying the areas where there is a huge population of stray dogs. We should also act against meat shops and food outlets which throw leftovers to dogs.”

In Chandigarh, around 30 to 40 dog-bite cases are reported daily at two dedicated dispensaries in Sectors 19 and 38. Cases from neighbouring towns are also reported here.

Fact file

In Chandigarh, around 30 to 40 dog-bite cases are reported daily at two dedicated dispensaries in Sectors 19 and 38. Cases from neighbouring towns are also reported here.