Corpn finally wakes up to stray dog menace at Race Course

Coimbatore: The city corporation caught 16 stray dogs hours after TOI in its Friday edition highlighted how they were scaring the people visiting Race Course, which was developed as a model road under the smart city mission, by chasing them. Director of VOC Zoo Dr Saravanan confirmed that 16 dogs were caught from Race Course on the day and the drive would continue as a few more dogs were still elusive. “The dogs will be taken to the sterilization centre and released at the same place. This is because they cannot be released elsewhere as per the Animal Birth Control rules. The dogs will become docile once they are neutered. The visitors will soon see a difference in the animal behaviour.”A source with the city corporation said the stray dogs caught from the Race Course on Friday looked new to the place. “Usually, the dogs found at Race Course are sterilized. They never create any issues for the visitors. However, all the 16 dogs that we caught today (Friday) are unsterilized ones. Most of them were caught from the walking track and the road adjacent to it. We need to check how they got there.”Another corporation official said the dog sterilization centre at Ukkadam would be brought to use soon. “We have engaged an NGO to take up sterilization activity. It will have a capacity to neuter 500 dogs a month.”The city houses another two sterilisation centres at Seeranaickenpalayam and Ondipudur. The city corporation has plans to construct two more centres for the north and central zones. At present, the civic body is scouting for suitable places to set them up.