Thiruvananthapuram: The sole post for Thiruvananthapuram Corporation’s veterinary surgeon is lying vacant at a time when the capital’s residents are agitated over the issue of stray dogs. The doctor, who was on deputation from the Animal Husbandry Department, has reverted to his parent department, according to Health Standing Committee Chairperson K Sreekumar. The Corporation had submitted an application to the Animal Husbandry Department to send a replacement, he said.
It has been two weeks since the post fell vacant. However, the councillor insisted that the programme was carrying on well. While refusing to share the actual number of dogs caught after the Pulluvila incident (where 65-year-old Silvamma was mauled to death by stray dogs), he said it was “well beyond expectations”. The Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme is now being carried out by two veterinary surgeons hired on a contract basis. The Corporation has been giving them Rs 25,000 per month.
“Each veterinarian is expected to do the ABC procedure on five dogs every day. Recently, we decided that for every additional dog on which the procedure is conducted, the doctor will get Rs 250 each,” he said. The Corporation has not asked for more doctors but the local body is planning to increase the number of dog catchers from two to four. Apart from the doctors, the dog squad consists of two dog catchers, two para-veterinary staff, 1 driver and one attender. The daily wages of other members in the dog squad has been increased from Rs 325 to Rs 600.
