'Leave a few street dogs into animal lovers' homes': SL Bhojegowda

Bengaluru: Members of the Legislative Council cutting across party lines on Tuesday asked the government to move the Supreme Court seeking its intervention to address the 'street dog menace' in the state.

Their demand comes a day after the SC ordered authorities to remove stray dogs in Delhi. 

While replying to a question by JD(S) MLC SL Bhojegowda, the government expressed helplessness, with Minister for Municipal Administration and Hajj Rahim Khan citing petitions and pointing fingers at animal lovers.

Following this, MLCs said 10 dogs must be released into every animal lover's home. "We are witnessing dog bite cases daily and victims are being hospitalised. If someone opposes removal of stray dogs from the streets, let the government leave a few dogs in their compounds to make them understand the reality," said Bhojegowda.

"What will they do if a stray bites their children?" he said.

Rahim Khan said there is no provision to remove dogs from streets. "As per the court order, we can sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs," he pointed out.

Countering the minister, all the legislators unanimously demanded the government to file a petition before the SC seeking its intervention. Rahim Khan said the government will "consult the law department and decide".

During the discussion, Bhojegowda claimed that he oversaw the killing of over 2,000 stray dogs in Chikmagalur. 

"When I was the head of the city municipality, we were tired of the stray dog menace and killed over 2000-plus stray dogs. Later, we buried them in coconut gardens," he claimed.

He later clarified that there was no order from the court restricting killing or removal of stray dogs at that time.