Chandigarh MC may shift dogs out of Raipur Kalan today

The Chandigarh Municipal Corporation is likely to shift all dogs from the Raipur Kalan Animal Birth Control (ABC) Centre to the renovated building of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Centre in Sector 38 (West) here tomorrow.

Sources in the civic body said the SPCA building was being given final touches.

The MC had assured the Punjab and Haryana High Court last week that it would shift all dogs to the new facility by March 10. The assurance came as the court pulled up the authorities concerned over the caging of a female dog at the MC-run Raipur Kalan centre as reported by The Tribune. During a 60-day caging, the dog had allegedly eaten its young.

Taking up the matter, the High Court also slammed the authorities for not shifting the dogs to the renovated animal shelter and was waiting for its inauguration. It made it clear that administrative formalities and VIP ribbon-cutting could not come in the way of animal welfare. The MC then assured the court that dogs would be shifted before March 10.

Due to the renovation of the Sector 38 (West) building, some animals were kept at makeshift facilities while others were kept at the MC’s Raipur Kalan centre.

Animal rights activists had alleged that the facilities for dogs were not good at the Raipur Kalan centre. They alleged that it was overcrowded. MC officials denied the allegations.

An officer of the UT Administration said the SPCA building was now ready. It has better facilities for injured animals. The cages have tiled walls and proper arrangement of water, air and food. CCTV cameras were being installed in the building. The area of the operation theatre has been increased. Fire safety arrangements are also in place. Separate rooms have been provided for cats, puppies and birds.

The MC has invited volunteers for helping it shift the dogs from the Raipur Kalan centre to the new facility. Around 40 to 50 dogs, pigeons and kittens will be shifted to the renovated building.