GHMC to involve RWAs to control dog menace

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is gearing up to tackle dog menace in the city and is planning to involve Residential Welfare Associations (RWAs), Basthi committees and non government organisations. Somesh Kumar, Commissioner & Special Officer, GHMC said that the present 17 dog catching vehicles would be increased to 24 and four teams would be deployed as soon as cases are reported.

GHMC catches stray dogs to control birth rate and undertake de-warming, administer anti-rabies vaccine operations duly certifying them with necessary stamping for identification. As per a GHMC survey in 2011, there are five lakh dogs in the twin cities. In the last four years 44,286 dogs have been vaccinated.

In a meeting held with RWAs and senior veterinary officials on Wednesday, it was decided to open colony caretaker centres in various areas of the twin cities. Vasanthi from Blue Cross Society suggested that tax for pet animals could be levied as is the case in Mumbai, Calcutta and Chennai. Dr Laxmi from Animal Welfare Movement requested the Commissioner to establish special dog catching squads in every area to control dog menace.

Dr Sampath from Institute of Preventive Medicines noted that the number of dog bite cases has declined in the last four years. In 2010-11 there were 52,264 cases, in 2012-13 it dropped to 44,118, in 2013-14 it further reduced to 42,952 and in 2014-15, only 30,205 cases were reported.

Dr Yogi Reddy, retired director of Animal Husbandry Department, retired doctors of Veterinary and other wings showed willingness to cooperate with the GHMC in controlling the dog menace in the city. N Ravi Kiran, Additional Commissioner (H&S); Dr Venkateshwar Reddy, Chief Veterinary Officer, GHMC and representatives from various Residential Welfare Associations and Basthi Committees participated in the meeting.