Sterilisation drive halted, stray dogs have a field day

Sandeep Rana

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, July 20

Even though the dog menace is on the rise and dog-bite incidents (yesterday, around 15 residents were bit by a rabid dog) are being reported from the city, the sterilisation campaign of the MC has been stopped for the past one week.

According to a survey, there are around 3,000 to 3,500 stray dogs in the district while the MC has been able to sterilise only 482 in the past two years. The corporation claims it has been sterilising around 15 dogs per day, but residents complain the menace has been increasing. Complaints of dogs bites, accidents and nuisance caused by the canines are common.

“The authorities are befooling us in the name of sterilising dogs. They are not serious about the campaign,” said Rakesh Aggarwal, president of the Residents Welfare Association, Sector 12.

“Dogs can be seen roaming all over the city. We caution our children against dogs whenever they step out of the house,” said Suresh Kumar, a resident of Sector 7. The incident which occurred yesterday has woken up the authorities from slumber. Deputy Commissioner Garima Mittal today directed the department concerned to start an effective drive against stray dogs. An MC official said, “This is the breeding time; we do not sterilise dogs during this period.”

Wasn’t late, says doc

Dr Rimjhim of the Sector 7 dispensary refuted reports that she reached the dispensary late (at 10 am) on Tuesday when the victims came there for treatment. “By that time, I had already  left for the spot to treat the victims,” she said.