The stray dogs menace seems to be increasing by the day in the city. The Union Territory of Chandigarh now has 7,800 stray dogs.
Thanks to the lackadaisical approach of the UT Administration and Municipal Corporation of Chandigarh, the number of stray dogs on Chandigarh streets has soared significantly over the past five years.
According to the 19th livestock census conducted recently by the UT Animal Husbandry Department, the city has a total of 17,600 dogs. It includes 9,800 domestic dogs and 7,800 stray dogs.
In the previous livestock enumeration exercise held in the year 2007, the number of dogs were stated to be 13,425 including 7,712 domestic dogs and 5,713 stray dogs.
As per the latest assessment, the population of the stray dogs has soared by over a thousand since the year 2007. The population of stray dogs here has risen by about 36 per cent while the number of domestic dogs has increased by 27 percent since 2007.
Every year over thousand cases of dog bites are reported in the city and the problem is severe in the southern sectors of the city.
While the city residents have voiced grave concerns over dogs roaming freely scavenging for food on streets, the concerned authorities have failed to deal with the menace of stray dogs.
As per the records, about 25 dog bite cases are reported everyday at the Sector 19 Civil dispensary, which is the only anti-rabies clinic in the city. In 2011, the anti rabies dispensary received a total of 4724 cases of dog bites from the tricity. The maximum cases registered were from Chandigarh and the numeral further increased in the year 2012.
The problem has become more serious in view of the fact that the dogs are the most common carriers of rabies, the disease which is on rise in the city. Several deaths have been reported in the region due to rabies and the cases of dog-bites are still on rise.
According to the Centre notified Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2000 ("ABC Rules"), there is a ban on killing of the stray dogs, not even the ferocious ones. And, the ever-increasing population of stray dogs and unsuccessful sterilization has proved detrimental towards curbing rabies here.
While giving details of the livestock census, Dr lovelesh Kant Gupta, Joint Director, Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department said: “During the census exercise, a total of 17600 dogs have been counted in Chandigarh. This includes 9800 domestic dogs and 7800 stray dogs.”
He said, “Every household in the union territory of Chandigarh was covered during the livestock enumeration.”
“The data regarding the population of other animals is yet to be compiled. And, the UT Animal Husbandry Department would release the data in a month’s time,” he added.
The livestock enumeration exercise in Chandigarh was conducted in the year 2012 and about 200 enumerators were engaged for the purpose.
In 2007, the livestock census had revealed that the population of 128683 poultry including 131 cocks, 51527 hens and 77025 chicken. 1448 stray cattle and 330 rabbits also were counted. And, 27596 livestock including pigs, buffalos, goats, horses among others were counted in the city.
Dog pounds nowhere in sight
While the stray dogs menace continues to haunt the city denizens, the higher authorities are sitting over the plans to construct dog pounds in Chandigarh.
In view of increase in the cases of dog bites, the UT Administration in January 2009 had announced to set up two dog pounds (Animal Birth Control Hospital) to make the city free from the menace of stray dogs and also to provide a decent life to the stray dogs.
Over 600 dogs were to be accommodated in the dog pounds. And, People for Animals (PFA) was to set up all requisite support facilities and infrastructure in the dog pounds. Two acre of land for setting up of the pounds at village Raipur Kalan was also allocated to the PFA but till now, nothing has been done in this regard. With the passage of time, the project seems to have lost in oblivion.