KOCHI: There is a general perception among animal lovers, Animal Husbandry Department and public that local bodies had failed miserably to address stray dog menace in an effective way. In spite of a slew of directions being list out in the Kerala Panchayat Raj (Licensing of Pigs and Dogs) Rules 1998, Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001 and others, local bodies have failed to adhere to the directions.
The result was more than they could imagine - stray dog menace increasing unprecedentedly. Highlighting the same, the Kerala High Court, while disposing of petitions regarding stray dog menace on Wednesday, directed the local bodies to act more responsibly in this matter as they were asked to ensure effective functioning of the Monitoring Committee, whose responsibility is to plan and manage dog control programme. It has also directed the local bodies to come out with a dog control cell.
“The LSGs had a lot to do with the stray dog controlling programmes. The responsibility of the Animal Husbandry Department is to provide technical assistance for the same.
Meanwhile, it has been found that the LSG Department had taken the matter lightly and it has now gone out of hand. Planning on a war-footing is the need of the hour in this regard,” said an official with the Directorate of Animal Husbandry. On the other hand, O M Joy, president of Street Dog Eradication Group, told ‘Express’ that in the backdrop of the court directive, the organisation will restart the culling of stray dogs from Thursday.
He also added that for coordinating this activity, being conducted state-wide, a control cell will be opened at Pulluvazhy in Perumbavoor.
“The cell will function round the clock and will address all issues related to stray dog menace. After the court directive, we have already received a number of calls seeking our assistance. The aim is to make our roads free of stray dogs and we have coordinated with dog catchers across the state”.
“The intensive dog eradication campaign will be conducted for the next 15 days,” Joy said.
THE ABC
■ Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001 mandates constitution of a committee by the local bodies
■ The committee has to monitor the planning and management of dog control programmes
■ The rule stresses that humane methods should be followed while catching dogs
■ Only dogs which have been certified as incurably ill and mortally wounded could be killed