Animal welfare board members criticize Sambhajinagar civic body over poor execution of animal birth control programme
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Members of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) have severely criticised the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation for its inadequate implementation of the animal birth control (ABC) programme for stray dogs.
AWBI member and animal rights activist Berryl Sanchis said the ABC programme was implemented without appropriate leadership, lacking both a full-time chief animal husbandry officer and an official monitoring committee.
"A private firm is executing the programme with no direct supervision of the municipal corporation. The key position of chief animal husbandry officer is very necessary for the scientific execution of the ABC programme," Sanchis said.
Sanchis pointed out issues including insufficient veterinary care, unsanitary conditions, and unauthorised relocation of dogs during sterilisation, calling for an official investigation into the programme.
"While the ABC programme is important to keep a check on the population of stray dogs and avoid incidents of dog bites, it must be conducted within the framework of humanity and legality. We have raised strong concerns about the deaths of dogs, abrupt relocation of dogs after the surgeries, and overall inhumane treatment," Sanchis said.
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On Saturday, Sanchis, along with AWBI representative Shriniwas Dhuppad and local animal welfare advocates, conducted a meeting to address their concerns about the ABC programme in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Municipal Corporation's animal husbandry officer Shaikh Shahed Shaikh Nizam said the private agency responsible for the ABC programme had been instructed to follow established guidelines. "We have told the agency that its contract would be terminated if concerns raised by the animal lovers are not addressed," he said. Senior civic officials were unavailable to comment on the appointment of a chief animal husbandry officer and the establishment of a required monitoring panel under their supervision.
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