58 cages built, Panchkula to start sterilizing dogs

PANCHKULA: The municipal corporation (MC) was finally ready to provide services for sterilization of dogs as it has completed the construction of 58 cages in the pet centre in Sector 3.
The authorities were claiming the process would be started within a day or two. No dog has been sterilized at the centre for past five months,
The project, which had to be completed by July, according to directions from commissioner S S Phulia, commenced on Thursday.According to data, 6,000 stray dogs were in the city and 4,600 were yet to be sterilized.
"I have asked doctors to start the sterilization programme as the cages are ready. The project got a bit delayed but now we can speed up work," said mayor Upinder Kaur Ahluwalia.
A senior veterinary doctor claimed they would increase the number of sterilization cases in a month as compared to past record.
"As we did not have any cages with us to keep the dogs, we could not continue the programme. Now that the cages are ready, our target is to sterilize 250 dogs each month. Earlier, we used to sterilize only 150 in a month," said Dr M R Singla, deputy director, animal husbandry department, and centre in-charge.
According to sources, municipal officials were struggling to find a contractor since the previous one who used to bring canines to the centre relinquished his job after suffering huge losses.
"We are looking to appoint a new contractor. We are also trying to convince former contractor Zaheer Khan to continue with his services as now the cages are ready," said a senior municipal official.