Ludhiana MC resumes sterilisation drive in city

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, June 8

As the newly constructed building of the Municipal Corporation’s animal birth control (ABC) centre has opened, the process of sterilisation of stray dogs has been resumed in the city. The centre aims to sterilise between 60 and 100 stray dogs daily.

Notably, the MC, Ludhiana, had started the sterilisation project in February 2015. The MC has conducted sterilisation of thousands of stray dogs in the past but a number of canines were yet to be sterilised. The drive had remained off for some time in the past. Now, the MC has hired a new firm to conduct the sterilisation of the remaining stray dogs in the city.

On Tuesday, Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu inaugurated the new building of the centre. He said that each sterilisation would cost Rs 1,200 and the centre would carry out up to 100 sterilisations daily and in the next one-and-a-half year, all stray dogs of Ludhiana would be sterilised.

Mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu and MC Commissioner Pardeep Kumar Sabharwal were present.

According to officials, the centre has been developed at the cost of nearly Rs 1 crore and it would have a team of three expert veterinary doctors, along with a staff of 14 assistants. The centre has preparation, sterilisation rooms, operation theatre, 22 kennels, including six pre and 16 post-operation.

The centre has two dog-catcher vehicles which would catch the dogs daily and then, they would be taken to the landing area, kennels and later to the operation theatre where doctors would perform surgery.

Following the surgery, the sterilised dogs would be kept under observation for five to six days in kennels and later would be left at the place from where they were caught by the dog-catcher team as per directions of the Animal Welfare Board for natural habitat. Before leaving the stray dogs, the anti-rabies shot would be administrated.

Senior Veterinary Officer Harbans Dhalla said: “About 40,000 stray dogs were sterilised in the past. Now, the new firm has started operations.”

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