<p>Coming under severe criticism by the citizens in the wake of menace of stray dogs and cattle, the civic authorities have decided to increase the number of stray dog sterilisation and also asked owners of cattle not to leave them on streets.</p><p>At a public meeting held in Hubballi on Saturday to discuss this issue, complaints poured in, and citizens expressed ire against the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation. When citizens wanted strict measures to end the problems being created by stray animals, animal welfare activists suggested a stronger animal birth control (ABC) programme and control over cattle owners. Questions on the value of human lives and canine lives were also raised in the pretext of a recent incident of stray dogs attacking a girl at Shimla Nagar. </p><p>Some corporators expressed helplessness that dog menace has to be controlled as per the guidelines of the ABC, and the corporation cannot take any other measure. Also, they blamed officials and wanted strongest possible steps to check stray animal menace. The meeting was informed that over Rs six lakh is being spent for stray dog sterilisation programme every month.</p><p>After hearing the complaints, and suggestions like creating dog zones, tagging stray animals and maintaining digital platform, HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali lamented that getting dog and cattle catchers is very difficult, but ABC programme would be intensified as that is the only legal provision available to check stray dog menace.The approximate number of dogs is 30,000 in the twin cities. Efforts would be made to increase the stray dog sterilisation numbers from existing 500 per month to 3,000, by increasing the number of one ABC centre to three or four. The number of dog catchers who come from Assam would be increased from existing 8 to 30. These measures would be taken after getting approval from the HDMC general body, Ghali said.</p><p>Requesting the co-operation of all, Mayor Jyothi Patil asked citizens not to feed stray animals but to give garbage to auto-tippers only. </p><p>“We will ensure that sterilisation gets intensified, one more veterinary officer is appointed, and will ask NGOs to adopt stray dogs. Cattle owners should not leave them on streets, and nobody should pressurise to leave the cattle caught on streets. We will find out solution for stray dog and cattle menace in a couple of months,” she assured. Deputy Mayor Santosh Chawan, HDMC’s public health, education and social justice standing committee chairman Rajanna Koravi, Leader of Opposition in HDMC Imran Eligar, corporators and others were present.</p>
<p>Coming under severe criticism by the citizens in the wake of menace of stray dogs and cattle, the civic authorities have decided to increase the number of stray dog sterilisation and also asked owners of cattle not to leave them on streets.</p><p>At a public meeting held in Hubballi on Saturday to discuss this issue, complaints poured in, and citizens expressed ire against the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation. When citizens wanted strict measures to end the problems being created by stray animals, animal welfare activists suggested a stronger animal birth control (ABC) programme and control over cattle owners. Questions on the value of human lives and canine lives were also raised in the pretext of a recent incident of stray dogs attacking a girl at Shimla Nagar. </p><p>Some corporators expressed helplessness that dog menace has to be controlled as per the guidelines of the ABC, and the corporation cannot take any other measure. Also, they blamed officials and wanted strongest possible steps to check stray animal menace. The meeting was informed that over Rs six lakh is being spent for stray dog sterilisation programme every month.</p><p>After hearing the complaints, and suggestions like creating dog zones, tagging stray animals and maintaining digital platform, HDMC Commissioner Rudresh Ghali lamented that getting dog and cattle catchers is very difficult, but ABC programme would be intensified as that is the only legal provision available to check stray dog menace.The approximate number of dogs is 30,000 in the twin cities. Efforts would be made to increase the stray dog sterilisation numbers from existing 500 per month to 3,000, by increasing the number of one ABC centre to three or four. The number of dog catchers who come from Assam would be increased from existing 8 to 30. These measures would be taken after getting approval from the HDMC general body, Ghali said.</p><p>Requesting the co-operation of all, Mayor Jyothi Patil asked citizens not to feed stray animals but to give garbage to auto-tippers only. </p><p>“We will ensure that sterilisation gets intensified, one more veterinary officer is appointed, and will ask NGOs to adopt stray dogs. Cattle owners should not leave them on streets, and nobody should pressurise to leave the cattle caught on streets. We will find out solution for stray dog and cattle menace in a couple of months,” she assured. Deputy Mayor Santosh Chawan, HDMC’s public health, education and social justice standing committee chairman Rajanna Koravi, Leader of Opposition in HDMC Imran Eligar, corporators and others were present.</p>
