BBMP runs after dogs at night
Tired of protesting residents, dog-catchers will now hunt strays for sterilisation when people are asleep.
If you’re the kind who can’t get sleep when street dogs bark, your life is about to get worse with louder howls, yelps and growls.
BBMP is planning a midnight assault to catch and sterilise stray dogs because residents hamper their efforts during the day.
Mayor S K Nataraj said, “Normally, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) personnel work during the day, but dog-catching becomes tough as dog-lovers unnecessarily argue with our men and do not allow them to catch the dogs. They resist even when they are told that dogs will only be sterilised and not culled. That is why we are thinking of catching stray dogs at night when people are asleep.”
According to a conservative estimate by the BBMP, there are about 2.5 lakh stray dogs in the city and a majority needs sterilisation and vaccination for rabies.
There have been several instances of dog attacks on people, the last major case being that of four-year-old Geetha who was attacked while playing near her residence in Chandra Layout a few weeks ago.
Job will get easier
BBMP officials expect the midnight operation to be easy for other reasons as well. Dr Parvez Ahmad Piran, BBMP joint director (animal husbandry), told Bangalore Mirror, “At night, there will be less traffic on the roads and dogs will not be able to hide under lorries and other vehicles to escape the dog-catchers. Also, dogs congregate at one place at night.”
Two Non Governmental Organisations from Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh are interested in tackling the dog menace.
The file is before the BBMP finance committee for approval. Tenders will be awarded after discussions in the Council.
Other measures
The BBMP also plans to increase Animal Birth Control (ABC) initiatives in old CMC areas which are now a part of greater Bangalore. The BBMP earmarks crores of rupees to sterilise stray dogs but funds are not used satisfactorily. Last year, 2,909 cases of stray dog bites were reported in the city. There were more than 9,600 cases in 2008 and more than 500 cases in the last seven months.
Residents resist even when they are told that dogs will only be sterilised, not culled
S K Nataraj mayor, BBMP
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