Raksha project fails to curb dog menace in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: The Raksha project launched by the Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (KVASU) in Wayanad to control the stray dog menace through the Animal Birth Control Project (ABC) has failed to achieve its objective due to the shortage of experts and lack of interest shown by the local administrative bodies. It was launched in 2015 and  the expert team with a mobile surgery unit had conducted two rounds of dog sterilisation camps on the request of the Kozhikode corporation.

That apart, no other local administrative bodies approached the institution seeking support.   Dr Shyam Venugopal, former head of the Raksha project, told DC that his team was planning to impart training to veterinarians under local administrative bodies on the sterilisation techniques. “We planned to  first popularise the concept and then train the veterinarians. But  none of the local administrative bodies evinced interest other than Kozhikode corporation,” he said.

The role of the local bodies was  to set up dog catchers, post-surgery care of the dogs and releasing them on the respective spots from where they were caught. “We were ready to do the surgery part without any cost,” he added. “Then too  the situation was as serious as now.  The only difference now is that a woman was killed by strays,”  Dr Venugopal added. Dr T.P. Sethumadhavan, director, entrepreneurship, at KVASU, who is in charge of the project now, told DC that there was shortage of trained dog catchers. “It would be tough to execute the ABC project in a massive way with the negligible workforce,”  he added.