Chennai: Animal welfare NGOs that received central and state funds for controlling stray dog population in Tamil Nadu seem to have gobbled up the sanctioned money. Preliminary investigations reveal that a few NGOs working with local bodies are now in the dock for performing substandard animal birth control (ABC) surgeries.
Activists across the state have started collecting evidences exposing shoddy ABC surgeries performed in TN. Annually over Rs 10 crore is spent on ABC surgeries for stray dogs.
Pictures shared by animal activists show instances of incomplete surgery by private veterinarians appointed by NGOs commissioned by corporations.
“The ABC programme is part of the public health function of local bodies and Rs 440 is sanctioned per dog to perform ABC. But there are deaths due to inappropriate surgeries. Two cases with medical negligence have been recorded,” said animal activist T.B. Somanathan of Animal Life Protection Association.
In a case in Tiruchy, a dog with its intestine slithering from its stomach was noticed by activists after an ABC surgery. The case is under study and a complaint has been lodged with the district collector and Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for further action, he said.
Also, enormous amounts are spent on anti-rabies vaccines to prevent human deaths, but there are no adequate records on the subject and a fact-finding team is now investigating the issue, he alleged.
AWBI has received complaints from Tiruchy and Coimbatore on botched ABC surgeries on dogs by veterinarians, F.M. Jerold, Animal Welfare Officer, AWBI, told DC. “We are looking in to the issue and would take necessary steps after investigations,” he said.
A senior TN official, when contacted, said under the ABC programme, stray dogs in urban local bodies (except Chennai) were enumerated as 2,78,850. Until May this year, 1,95,946 dogs were sterilized at a cost of Rs 7.64 crore. There are reports against NGOs and it is under inquiry. “We will take action based on the recommendations of AWBI,” the official said.
