AMC, AWBI to curb stray dog menace

AHMEDABAD: Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) chief major general RM Kharab held discussions with Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) on Friday for a viable humane solution to the dog menace in the city. He met municipal commissioner IP Gautam and his deputy captain Dilip Mahajan.
AWBI has taken up the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme for canines on a national level with two objectives — to end the presence of stray dogs on roads and public spaces and reduce incidence of rabies in the country.
Kharab said, "The age of iron tongs is history. There are options like butterfly nets which can be used to catch the stray dogs. AWBI experts can help civic bodies in training staffs."
Kharab also emphasised that before conducting a sterilisation drive in a particular area an awareness campaign should be conducted. "The residents should be taken into confidence for a smooth sterili-sation drive," said Kharab.
According to AWBI, there are over 20 million stray dogs in the country, Kharab said, "It will be a participatory approach between AWBI and civic bodies in the country to control their population."