BENGALURU: Following the death of a dog owing to power cut at the Government Veterinary Hospital on Queens Road, the joint commissioner (Solid Waste Management and Health) BBMP Sarfaraz Khan wrote to the Commissioner of Department of Animal Husbandry S Shekar requesting the restoration of power supply on Thursday.
This couldn’t have come at a better time because there are six dogs battling serious medical conditions including cancer. A rescued dog succumbed to his spinal cord injuries at the Animal Birth Control centre, run by Sarvodaya Sevabhavi Samstha (SSS), on Thursday as several operations stopped following a power cut.
Power supply, if restored sooner, would help with the treatment of six dogs, two of whom have cancer.
The power was disconnected under the directive of department of animal husbandry.
Earlier, R Nagendra, deputy director of animal husbandy, had stated that an eviction notice had already been sent to the ABC centre, following which the electricity supply was cut. This was done to bring down the old hospital, for construction of a new one.
One of the dogs is suffering from spinal cord injuries, says Dr Akshay Prasad, a veterinarian with SSS. “We are unable to provide infrared therapy to reduce its pain. The painkillers won’t help. Only IR therapy thrice a day can. The dog needs to be put on warm water bed with shredded papers to avoid bed sores,” says the doctor.
There are presently about 12 dogs in the centre – six healthy ones and the rest are undergoing treatment for various conditions including skin infections and tumour. “While being treated for a tumour, the dogs need to be kept in hygienic conditions. They are taking antibiotics. With the power cut, water supply has been affected,” says Dr Akshay.
Sheela K, manager and receptionist at the shelter, says three dogs who were brought in for treatment were taken back by their respective owners to another care centre on Friday. “It is very difficult to manage without power as there are caretakers also who stay here overnight.”
A lot of anti-rabies vaccines had to be dumped and half the lot was transferred along with the refrigerator to Jakkur, to where the shelter will be shifted.
Vinay Moray, a trustee of Sarvodaya, says, “We are managing somehow. We will shift the shelter to Jakkur once the construction there is complete. That would take about 15 days. The shelter is being constructed by Narayan Gowda and BBMP will bear the rent.”
Some dogs have been shifted to foster homes. Dr Akshay says, “Sending them to foster homes is better than keeping them at the shelter because they can be given individual attention... Shifting the dogs to other NGOs will be the last option.”
Vinay adds, “We don’t want to burden other shelters. There are only two NGOs with shelters – CARE and CUPA – and both are full.”
The City Express tried contacting the animal husbandry and BBMP officials, but they were not available for comments.
The letter from Sarfaraz Khan to Shekar, a copy of which is available with City Express, informs that a protest will be held at the BBMP office by the animal welfare NGOs and animal lovers against this the power cut.
Health risks
The operations in the hospital run are dealing with following health risks:
Infection due to use of unsterlised instruments in surgery
Unoperational exhuast fans, gas anaesthesia machine and ventilator raising post surgery complications.