GHMC faces demand to bring back stray dogs

Hyderabad: For the first time, the GHMC is facing a demand to bring back the stray dogs picked up for sterilisation.

Mr P. Mohan Chandran, a resident of Venkatapuram, has asked the GHMC why they have not brought back the sterilised stray dogs to the area. There are allegations that very often the GHMC’s veterinary wing kills the animals after taking them to the outskirts.

The resident in a letter to DC said, “The GHMC is capturing stray dogs and sterilising them as there have been several attacks by dogs. Recently a 7- year-old was attacked by a dog in Bowempally. As per law, the sterilised dogs have to be freed in the area from where they were captured. The GHMC captured many dogs from West Venkatapuram but they have not been brought back. I questioned the GHMC about this but they gave no reply.”

As per a survey conducted by Blue Cross and GHMC in 2011, the stray dog population was put at 5,69,513. The life span of the dogs is 8-12 years, reproductive age 6-8 months, gestation period 60-65 days and number of litter in a year two and litter size 4-6 pups.

GHMC officials denied the culling allegation, “As per HC orders, the GHMC has framed by-laws on animal birth control. The corporation is sterilising dogs and giving them anti-rabies vaccination. The animals are caught after complaints. If found healthy, they are sterilised and released in the same place from where they are caught. Dogs with diseases like rabies are killed.”