KOCHI: The Stray Dog Free Movement on Friday demanded elimination of the stray dog population in the state rather than resorting to their sterilisation and rehabilitation. Movement chairman Kochouseph Chittilappilly, vice-chairman Jose Chacko Periyapuram and members Jose Maveli and George Sleeba told reporters here that the number of stray dogs in the state had gone up phenomenally in the past one and a half decades making measures other than killing ineffective in solving the issue.
“The stray dog population in the state has grown from 1.15 lakh in 2001 when the Animal Birth Control rule came into existence to 2.75 lakh this year and nothing less than shooting them down will put an end to the issue,” Mr Chittilappilly said. “The state government and the local bodies should show the nerve to resort to this measure so that the people are not at the mercy of strays.” A majority of those who died of rabies in the Asia region belonged to India and the rabies vaccine lobby that is minting money from the country is behind dubious moves to protect the stray dog population in the name of animal lovers, Mr Chittilappilly said.
“They have a market of '8000 crore here,” he said. Dr Periyapuram said society was yet to wake up to the seriousness the stray dog population posed to children. “When we reined in the mosquito population, the diseases caused by it could be brought down,” he said. “Likewise should be the case of the stray dog menace which is causing the deadly rabies. I have personally seen the trauma being undergone by people with rabies. So there cannot be laxity on this count.”
Mr Chittilappilly said the movement was ready to legally and financially support those who came forward to kill stray dogs. “Union minister Maneka Gandhi is challenging the people of the state with her statements on the Pulluvila incident,” he said. He demanded that all stray dog victims be given free treatment and said there was a ray of hope in the measures being taken by the new state government.
