Stray dogs rule city roads

Packs of stray dogs lurking at street corners, public parks and markets are a common sight in the city. Despite several stray dog attacks on children and adults in several parts of the state, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) has failed to eradicate the menace in the city.

People living in slum areas are more vulnerable to stray dog attacks. According to the VMC figures, there are 14,000 street dogs in the city. Out of the total, 7,254 are dogs sterilised. It does not have division-wise figures of stray dogs.

All the 59 divisions in the city are facing the menace. The VMC’s proposal to set up an Animal Birth Control (ABC) centre at Ajit Singh Nagar at Rs 20 lakh has failed to materialise due to official apathy.

The VMC is now utilising the ABC centre of Jeeva Karunya Society at Bhavanipuram to sterilise street dogs.The two government hospitals and 22 health care centres are ill-equipped to treat dog bite cases due to shortage of anti-rabies vaccine.

According to an estimate, the government hospitals get 20 to 30 dog bite cases a week. Despite the high incidence of dog bite cases, the medical and health authorities have failed to replenish stock of anti-rabies vaccine in urban health centres.

Morning walkers living in vulnerable areas have started carrying sticks to ward off dogs. Bicycle riders are also facing a high risk of stray dog attacks.

Expressing concern over increase in canine population S Uday Kumar, a student of Bhavanipuram, said, “The stray dog menace is quite high in our locality. About 20 to 25 dogs can be spotted in our street at anytime.

Despite several complaints to the VMC authorities, no steps have been taken to curb the stray dog menace.’’“The increase in stray dog population has led to rise in the number of road accidents involving two-wheelers.

There is an urgent need to sterilise street dogs to control the canine population,'' said Vanajakshi, a resident of Ajit Singh Nagar.V Karuna Sree, a resident of Kabela Centre, said, “The stray dog menace in our locality is giving us sleepless nights.

The barking and frequent quarrels between two packs of dogs in the middle of night have become a big nuisance.’’Admitting the fact that the street dog menace was quite high in the city, VMC assistant veterinary surgeon Z Srinivasa Rao said, “Catching or sterilisation of all stray dogs is a herculean task.

The VMC is implementing anti-rabies vaccination drive regularly as a preventive measure. We have identified land for setting up of ABC centre at Ajit Singh Nagar. The VMC is making efforts to make the proposed ABC centre operational within two months.”

By:Sistla Dakshina Murthy