In order to tackle problems resulting from unregulated growth of the stray dog population, about 4,513 stray canines have been successfully sterilised and vaccinated at the Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre at Kedarpuram till date.
The first of its kind in Uttarakhand, the ABC centre in Dehradun was launched in the month of November in 2016. Before its launch, Humane Society International-India had conducted a street dog population survey in October, 2016, and concluded that there were about 20,000 stray dogs in Dehradun city and about 4,000 stray dogs in the nearby areas. Out of this stray dog population, the ABC centre has a target of sterilising and vaccinating 70 per cent of the total dog population in a period of two years.
Regarding problems being faced in the work the ABC and vaccination programme project manager Shrikant Verma said that at times problems are faced in the catching of stray dogs for sterilisation and vaccination. “This is because at times the people do not cooperate with us and hide the dogs in their homes when our people go to catch them. After our team leaves they release the stray dogs in the streets. This may be due to their old perception of us taking away the stray dogs and killing them,” said Dr Verma, while adding that not all are aware about the need for a license and vaccination cards for keeping a dog.
Referring to any scope for improvement in the functioning of the ABC centre, he opined that the facility could do more following introduction of helpline numbers for the people who need medical services for their dog.
Dr Verma went on to inform that ABC centre was to be launched in Nainital and Mussoorie too in its first phase. After the ABC in Dehradun, a similar centre was opened in Nainital in April, 2017. However, due to factors like lack of response by the municipal authority, work on the ABC centre in Mussoorie is yet to be completed.