THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Corporation has begun a survey of the stray dog population in the city, as part of launching a comprehensive animal birth control (ABC) programme.
In the survey conducted by the civic body two years ago, it was found there were less than 10,000 strays in the 100 wards of the city. “The new survey will help us identify the spots where the stray population is high, and plan the ABC programme properly,” said Pettah Veterinary Hospital senior surgeon Dr Prem Jain.
The survey will be conducted with assistance of NGOs and the youth, and the civic body plans to sterilise all the stray dogs in three years. The Corporation will spend `150 on each stray dog, to sterilise, vaccinate and install micro-chip to identify their location and vaccination date.
The programme involves enhancing capacity of the existing facilities. Apart from modernising the ABC facility at Pettah, mobile units with three operation tables and kennels will be deployed at Kazhakkoottam, Thiruvallom, Kudappanakunnu and Jagathy in the Corporation for the procedure. As the number of surgeries performed per day is a key factor in achieving the target, the Corporation plans to enlist more doctors and staff.
More Vets
Five veterinary surgeons and an equal number of paramedical staff will be appointed on contract basis. Also, eight dog catchers, five handlers, five drivers and three office support staff will be appointed. Persons who are interested can contact the Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Pettah Veterinary Hospital, before December 15.