Protest against Chandigarh MC’s dog sterilisation drive

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 30

Animal rights activists of the city protested against MC’s Animal Birth Control programme at the Sector 38 SPCA today. Earlier, activists had written to the UT Administration and the Municipal Corporation (MC) authorities raising the issue of botched sterilisation surgeries of stray canines and their dislocation by the dog catching squad.

Jairoop, one of the activists, said, “We want the MC to be proactive and shun lackadaisical approach especially when it comes to sterilisation of stray dogs.”

Acitivists said the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme of the UT Municipal Corporation was being condemned by residents due to rise in cases of dislocation, botched surgeries and catching of unfit dogs.

In a letter to the UT and the MC, activists stated cases where already sterilised bitches were cut open for another surgery despite having a clear ear-notch. In some cases, like in Sector 7, where a sterilisation drive was conducted in the first week of October, a dog was found with its intestines exposed, said Kashish, another activist.

Activists have demanded strict monitoring and auditing of the ABC programme by an independent panel and punishment for MC officials overlooking the programme along with veterinarians, who conducted surgery of the dog in Sector 7.

“Also, MC’s dog catching squad should tag dogs with a number and click their pictures while loading them into a van so as to make sure that canines are released back at the same place,” added Kashish. When contacted, no MC official commented on the issue.