Dog Sterilization Has Been Resumed by Mohali Mc On April 3

Chandigarh, as per the MC’s plan, the sterilization drive will be executed in a particular area or sector at a time and probably focused on sterilizing female canines to limit reproduction.

The Chandigarh municipal corporation (MC) will resume the dog sterilization drive from Monday in order to tackle the stray dog menace and amplify the continuous Animal Birth Control (ABC) program.

Initially, it will be started from Sectors 28, 27, and 29 in coordination with resident welfare associations, area councilors, and locals.

“We aim to start the drive in one area or sector so that all the dogs, especially the females, are sterilized. Since dogs do not leave their area, this will help in controlling their population,” MC commissioner Anindita Mitra stated.

“Before catching street dogs for sterilization, the civic body will inform local residents through public notices, announcements, and banners” she added.

The commissioner advised that geo-tagged and time-stamped images of the dogs at the time of the lifting and dropping ensure dogs are not dislocated and keep a count of the sterilizations.

Two new dog-catching vans bought

Explaining the measures to control the stray dog population, Mitra stated, “Two new dog vans have been purchased. One will be used by the NGO for the ABC program, and the other will be used by the dog control team to address problems of biting or rabid dogs.”

The dog census performed by the UT animal husbandry department in 2018 identified 12,920 feral dogs in the city. MC claims to have sterilized 20,799 dogs between 2015 and 2021.

At present, the sterilization drive of the MC is moving at a slow pace due to insufficient staff and low capability at the animal care center in Sector 38 (West).

The second animal birth control center is to be ready by the April end

Mitra added MC was hoping to extend another ABC center of 310 kennels capacity, in Raipur Kalan by April’s end. The existing center at Sector 38 (West) has a capacity of just 104 kennels.

Mitra stated “The first ABC center has been operational for one year. We have given directions to install CCTVs and sync them with mobile phones of officers to ensure that the dogs are treated humanely. Separate funds have also been allocated for maintenance of the ABC Centre and MC officials have been instructed to ensure weekly visits”.