Civic body ignores sick, injured stray animals

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, May 14

Ill or injured stray animals, including stray dogs and cattle, are continuously being ignored in areas of the Municipal Corporation (MC), Ludhiana. Despite the availability of some government veterinary hospitals in the city, the MC has not made any arrangement to take these injured or sick animals to these hospitals for required treatment.

A number of sick stray animals are dying without getting any treatment. Residents want the Municipal Corporation authorities to start an ambulance service and ensure provision of timely treatment to the sick or injured stray dogs, cattle and any other animals or birds in the city. The matter was raised in the past too but the civic body took no concrete measures in this regard.

Major Amarjit Singh Bath, a city resident, said: “We have raised a demand that there is a need to start a 24x7 dedicated helpline service for the welfare of the stray animals so that sick or injured animals must be provided treatment or any help timely. But, no steps have been taken in this regard by the MC.”

He said: “There are a number of government hospitals and a veterinary university Ludhiana. The MC can take help of these institutions to provide treatment to the animals in areas under its jurisdiction. The civic body should start an ambulance service to take such animals to nearby government hospitals.”

Simrandeep Singh, chairman of ‘Ek Akal Simran Charity Foundation’, said: “Ill stray dogs, bulls, cows and other animals are commonly seen in the city but many of them die without getting any treatment. Attention should be paid to the sick animals and birds too. A huge amount of cow cess is being collected by the civic body. The collected amount should be used for the welfare of all animals.”

He said: “It is the responsibility of the MC and the government to provide timely treatment to all ill or injured stray animals. Teams of veterinary doctors should be formed for the task. A helpline number must be launched for the service. The government departments such as MC have many vehicles that can be used to shift injured or ill animals to hospitals for treatment.”

MC’s senior veterinary officer Dr Harbans Singh Dhalla said they would make a proposal to provide treatment to such stray animals at veterinary hospitals under the Animal Husbandry Department.

He said the MC had an ambulance that could be used for shifting the animals to hospitals.

‘Ambulance service needed for timely treatment’

A number of sick stray animals are dying without getting any treatment. Residents want the MC authorities to start an ambulance service and ensure provision of timely treatment to the sick or injured stray dogs, cattle and other animals or birds in the city. The matter was raised in the past too but the authorities concerned took no concrete measures in this regard.

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