SRINAGAR: Unnerved by growing dog bites, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has launched a massive drive to sterilize canines in the summer capital city.
Official figures reveal that 796 dogs have been sterilized from April 14 to July 10. Likewise, 897 dogs have been given anti-rabies shots in the city. SMC has operationalized a dog sterilization facility at Tengpora to speed up the drive.
“There are certain guidelines which we have to follow. We have to catch dogs and drop them off at the same place. Dogs mark their own territory. If they are released somewhere else, the dogs in that area will not allow them. As a result, they will become more ferocious,” Dr. Tawheed Ahmad, Health/Veterinary Officer, SMC, told The Kashmir Monitor.
Official data reveal that 6855 dog bite cases have been reported to Anti-rabies Clinic at SMHS Hospital in 2022-23. Srinagar district tops the list with 4912 dog bites in the last one year.
Figures released by the Anti-rabies Clinic revealed that over 55000 persons have been bitten by dogs since 2013. Figures reveal that 6041 dog bite cases were reported to SMHS hospital in 2013-14, 7324 in 2015-16, 6548 in 2016-17, 6802 in 2017-18, 6399 in 2018-19, 6984 in 2019-20, and 4798 in 2020-21.
Conservative estimates put the dog population between 60,000 to 70,000 in Srinagar city. SMC has hired an agency for dog sterilization. Besides sterilization, the authorities have decided to inoculate the dogs.
“We select a particular ward and catch dogs for sterilization. Dogs too have become conscious. Whenever they see the van, they flee. So we have to adopt a scientific method of catching dogs. Releasing dogs is a problem because people resent it. We seek cooperation from the general public so that we can do our job in a better manner,” said Dr Tawheed.
SMC has decided to speed up the sterilization process so that a maximum number of dogs can be covered. “Our target is to sterilize at least 100 dogs a day. We hope to achieve the target. All the sterilized dogs are inked on their ears. Those dogs with special marks on their ears signal that they are sterilized and immunized,” said Dr Tawheed.
Experts have been calling for proper disposal of kitchen and other wastes. Around one lakh poultry birds are slaughtered every day which generates 40000 kilos of waste that caters to the food needs of the stray dogs.“People should also take steps and not throw waste in open spaces,” said a doctor.
