Stray dog mgmt: Resource crunch worries animal lovers

Time of India

2 days ago

Guwahati: In Guwahati, where stray dogs are a familiar presence, the Supreme Court's recent directive to relocate street dogs to shelter homes has ignited concern among animal welfare groups.
The order, intended to address the surge in dog bite incidents nationwide, is seen by local activists as a potential strain on the city's already limited animal care resources, threatening to undo years of neutering and vaccination efforts.
Veterinarians and animal activists expressed alarm over the lack of capacity, trained personnel, and veterinary resources in state's shelter facilities to manage a large influx of dogs.
The absence of a robust Animal Birth Control (ABC) initiative, as outlined in the Animal Birth Control rules of 2001 and 2023, further complicates the situation, hindering effective neutering policies.
The Guwahati Municipal Corporation (GMC) claims to conduct various neutering programs in collaboration with the NGO 'Just be Friendly' (JBF). However, Sashanka Sekhar Dutta, a veterinarian and founder of JBF, argues against sheltering, advocating instead for the ABC approach, which focuses on sterilizing, vaccinating, and returning strays to their original locations.
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He highlights the challenges posed by limited veterinary teams, inadequate infrastructure, and the absence of scientific procedures. Dutta calls for stricter enforcement of pet registration to prevent owners from abandoning adopted strays. "Owners often adopt dogs but later abandon them due to lack of care," he said.
Animal activist Milin Dutta points to open garbage dumping, heat, and prevailing animal cruelty as factors contributing to animal aggression. "Awareness is crucial for understanding animal psychology. People, including school children and adults, must respect animals' space to prevent aggressive behavior," Dutta said.
Nishat Goswami, a dog lover, underscores the need for enforcement of Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in every district.
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