Coimbatore: The residents of a majority of wards in the city have alleged that the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has failed miserably to tackle the dog menace in the city which has presently has reached an alarming level.
Coimbatore: The residents of a majority of wards in the city have alleged that the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation (CCMC) has failed miserably to tackle the dog menace in the city which has presently has reached an alarming level.
"While walking or driving, one has to look out for either a pothole or stray dogs. The alarming rise in the number of stray dogs on a street is proof that the Corporation had turned a blind eye in implementing sterilization programs effectively in the city," alleged Marudhachalam, a resident from Bharathi Park Road in Saibaba Colony.
Even the city's plush locale like the Race Course has not been spared. "At any given time, there are 5-7 stray dogs walking along with the walkers on the walking track. People who jog or walk fast are hounded by these stray dogs," complained Kamalnath, a regular walker from Race Course.
Residents and commuters in Karumbukadai and Kuniamuthur areas too claim that there has been a marked rise in the number of stray dogs in their area. And, they are sure that they have not yet seen anyone work toward animal birth control to keep a check on the growing stray canine population. "It is a nightmare to travel at nights. The dogs roam in packs and it becomes tough to get rid of them," says Abdul Hakkim, a resident of Kuniamuthur. He also noted that the situation is even worse near the sewage treatment plant in Ukkadam. "Dogs with open sores and skin lesions pose serious health hazards to the residents and pedestrians. They are more likely to spread rabies," opined Abdul Hakkim who also cited the case of the dog bite incident in Salem which claimed the life of a young girl.
Apart from the failure to implement animal birth control solutions, another major issue linked to the growing stray dog population is attributed to people feeding stray dogs. People fail to understand that their action of feeding stray dogs could cause nuisance to others and help these dogs breed. Majority of the dogs thrive on the food provided by the residents of that locality. According to health authorities, the leftovers attract flies and other disease-causing germs.
"There is a person in R S Puram who feeds bones and chicken legs to dogs every day around 7.30 pm. If we confront him, he will change the location but he never stops feeding the stray dogs. People should realise that if stray dogs are kept nourished, they will breed faster and their population will increase in multitudes," pointed Ramesh, a resident from Periasamy Road in R S Puram. He also added that morning walkers and children who go for tuitions in the evening are at the most risk from stray dogs.
Closure of birth control centre
The centre in Ukkadam which was used to sterilize dogs from 80 wards of the Corporation by 'People for Animals unit II' was closed in 2017. After the closure of the Centre, the Corporation could not find another replacement for the Centre elsewhere and thus the stray dogs population increased in the past two years. The civic body had engaged Humane Animal Society (HAS) and People For Animals Unit II (PFA) to address the stray dog menace. The agencies were entrusted with the responsibility of performing animal birth control operations on dogs and administer rabies vaccine. The HAS was assigned with 20 wards in West Zone and the PFA Unit II with 80 wards of North, South, East and Central zones.
Humane Animal Society (HAS)
Seconding the above allegations of a surge in stray dog menace, the data revealed by the Humane Animal Society (HAS) is even more appalling. According to Mini Vasudevan of HAS, "We conducted a scientific survey in 2018 and our data revealed that the stray dog population in Coimbatore is around 46,000 with a 10% margin error. This is an alarming statistics. The reason for the rise in numbers is attributed to the closure of the Animal Birth Control Centre in 2017. The Centre which was built at a cost of Rs.25 lakhs in 2014 was forced to close down, following repeated public protests in Ukkadam," she noted.
People For Animals Unit II (PFA)
Kalpana Vasudevan, the Honorary State Animal Welfare Officer who is also associated with PFA stated that the Corporation should take accountability for this issue, since the city administration has not taken any firm action to address the menace. "From 2013 to 2017, PFA Unit II had sterilized around 16,000 dogs in 80 wards. But after the closure of the Centre, there was no alternate place to perform birth control surgeries and the population of street dogs increased. Either the Seeranaickenpalayam Centre where the other organisation is performing surgeries should be used or the Corporation should take steps to identify a new place," she noted. "Even if a place is identified, it will take at least a year to build a new Centre. By then, two breeding seasons will be over and more puppies will be added to the existing population. Hence, CCMC should take up this issue on priority," stressed Kalpana.
Disapproval over cost
Even if a Centre is ear-marked, both PFA and HAS have repeatedly raised concerns over the cost offered by the Government. "As of 2006, the Government has been granting Rs.445 per surgery which does not even fit half of the actual cost. Even after a GO was passed during the late CM Jayalalithaa's tenure in 2013 to increase the surgery cost to Rs.700, nothing changed. Till today, the Corporation approves only Rs.445 per surgery," alleges Kalpana from PFA.
Seconding her, Mini Vasudevan also claimed that Rs.445 is inadequate to cover the cost of a surgery. While, we spend around Rs. 1000 per surgery, the Corporation pays us only half the cost. The authorities should look into the repeated requests to hike the cost and pay us accordingly. She also alleged that irregularity in payment is also yet another issue faced by them.
Waste Management and Dog Menace
Mini Vasudevan also threw light on the waste management in the city and how it directly attributes to stray dog menace. "Sterilization and waste management should go hand in hand. If there is more garbage lying on the streets, the street dogs will breed considerably. The un-sterilized dogs will thrive on the dumped garbage and keep giving birth," she pointed. It can be said that a new Centre for the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and addressing waste management should be carried out on a priority basis by the city Corporation to protect people from 46,000 plus stray dogs.
Proposal for new centre for performing ABC
The city Corporation is constructing an Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre in the east ward at a cost of Rs 1 crore. Sources say that the 50-cent ABC Centre has been ear-marked at Ondipudur and soon construction work will commence at the aforesaid site.