A rough average of the population in all 100 wards of the city shows a four digit number that goes above the 9,000 mark, which is not bad indeed for an emerging ‘metropolis’.
Well there is another count which is growing rapidly, the one of the canine breed. These strike an average of 200 to 250 in the capital city. The stray dog number can’t be neglected, courtesy the pilot dog census carried out by the dog squad of city corporation.
The drive which went on for 15 days was carried out in 10 wards that were picked randomly. The places included were Thampanoor, Kuravankonam, Peroorkada, Thirumala, Poojapura, Vazhuthacaud, Pettah, Kadakampally, Nanthancode and Medical College.
In the absence of scientific methodologies, a random sampling was done here. “We focused on areas where dog population camped more, such as markets, shops, school premises, drains and so on. The experienced hands in our team could differentiate the dogs in order to avoid duplication. Hence, a fixed distance was left in between each count,” said Dr Bijulal, corporation vet.
With the data obtained from the survey the veterinary wing of the corporation is planning to roll out an upgraded project in addition to Suraksha Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme jointly with the Animal Husbandry Department and Animal Welfare Board of India. According to the plan, certain techniques introduced by the Hyderabad-based NGO which was here to do the ABC programme, will be implemented. Plan also makes provision to record the area from where the dogs are caught so as to return them to the same spot after sterilisation is performed on them.
Canine troubles
“Stray dogs are carriers of parasites, both internally and externally. They sometimes cause the spread of zoonotic diseases (disease spread from animals to humans).
Administering canines long-acting anti-infection vaccine is the only way to prevent this. Adhering to the ABC (Dogs) rule of 2001 we will execute these steps for the pipeline project,” he said.