Stray dogs spaying slow in Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram: The Government Veterinary Hospital at Elakamon, near Varkala, has conducted Animal Birth Control (ABC) surgery on 10 dogs, since the drive began on October 3.

This is way lower than the the monthly target of 50-60. With the month coming to end, Elakamon centre is no where near achieving the target. None of the other five centres, where ABC drive was launched in the district, is close to achieving the targets either.

Experts cite infrastructural limitations for not achieving the targets. District animal husbandry officer Dr S. Rajendran said that Elakamon has three kennels, one veterinary surgeon for ABC, and three dog catchers. One of the dog catcher is a trainer, and the other two are trainees. The trainees take turns in going to the field and assisting the surgeon.

By November 15, ABC will start in 12 centres. Even then, the centres won’t be able to sterilise a lot of dogs as there are fund constraints, say experts.

Cost of dog sterilisation procedure ranges from Rs 1,200 to Rs 2,000. District panchayath has contributed Rs 20 lakhs, block panchayats Rs 10 lakhs and grama panchayats Rs 1 lakh for the project. This means each centre will have close to Rs 45,000 to spend. For that budget, a centre will not be able to do more than 50 procedures. Veterinarians familiar with the procedure say that staff and infrastructure needs to be beefed up so that ABC can be carried out efficiently.