'Adopt humane methods to tackle dog menace'

What is required is a well planned animal birth control (ABC) and anti-rabies vaccination programme, which, if monitored and executed well, can curb the population of dogs.

This was the collective voice of animal activists of The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) and The Voice of Stray Dogs.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, following BBMP commissioner’s statement on seeking Supreme Court’s permission to cull canines on the street, Rakesh Shukla, a volunteer of The Voice of Stray Dogs said the BBMP’s strategy to dislocate dogs would only cause more problems in the City. 

Not welcomed

“Dogs mark their territories and dislocating them will only increase conflicts, as newcomers are not welcomed. Culling of stray dogs took place in Bangalore before the implementation of ABC programme in 2001, and this was not a success,” he said. 

Actor and founder of Blue Cross - Hyderabad, Amala Akkineni said it was saddening to see the civilised society hardly raising its voice to stop the inhuman treatment meted out to animals. In 1990, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA), came out with guidelines for a systematic sterilisation programme, instead of mass killing of dogs.

Based on the guidelines, the activists said there was a need to strengthen animal birth control and anti-rabies programmes, which they felt were under the threat of being altered or discontinued.

Not because of killing

Dr S Chinni Krisha, co-founder and chairman of Blue Cross said streets of Singapore and Sydney were free from strays, not because of indiscriminate killing of dogs. But, because of the sound policies adopted by the governments, he explained.

The activists also cited examples from across the country, including the BBMP’s own successful campaign that helped dramatically reduce the incidents of dog bites in the City.

Civic participation

Besides emphasising on adopting more humane methods of addressing the issue, the activists also highlighted the importance of systematic disposal of garbage and civic participation in maintaining sanitation in the City.