There are no proper shelters for abandoned pets and injured strays in the city, but for the two Animal Birth Control (ABC) shelters which are not maintained properly, say animal welfare volunteers.
R. Ramkannan, one of the volunteers, says the ABC shelters in Sellur and Vellakkal perform sterilisation on captured strays. They are duty-bound to return the strays to their home territories post-surgery, but it is seldom done. “If we enquire about the whereabouts of captured dogs, the shelter workers have no idea,” he says.
Moreover, despite a restriction to sterilise puppies, feeding mothers and injured dogs, the shelters continue to do so. The shelters are not clean as well. These poorly maintained shelters perform a set duty. “Their job is population control. This has improved over the years. However, a major problem is the absence of round-the-clock polyclinics to treat injuries,” Mr. Ramkannan says.
P. R. Vishwanath, who runs a private shelter for dogs and an organisation called Oorvanam, says the need of the hour is round-the-clock hospitalisation and proper ambulance facilities for the strays. “The government veterinary clinics are open only from 7 a.m. to 12 noon. Only the polyclinic in Tallakulam is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. What happens to the strays that get accidentally run over by vehicles after these scheduled hours?” he asks.
Private clinics charge a minimum of ₹1,000 per visit, a princely sum for volunteers who act out of compassion. “Sundays are holidays for government clinics. Shouldn’t animals receive the same treatment as humans?” Mr. Vishwanath asks.
Mr. Ramkannan says there is an general apathy by first responders even towards rabies cases. Since the disease is highly contagious, an effective vaccination mechanism must be in place across the city. Animal Welfare Board and like-minded organisations must step in and fill the lacuna, he adds.
R. Jaikrishnan, the surgeon at the ABC shelter in Sellur, says vaccination has been stepped up since 2015. The shelter in Sellur can accommodate 45 to 50 dogs while the more spacious shelter in Vellakkal can house 75 dogs. “Some residents complain and request us to stop sending the dog back to the home territory, binding us in a dilemma,” he says. But a fostering shelter for animals is necessary. The owners should not abandon their pets and spend for the hospitalisation, he says.
A corporation health official says about 800 dogs were treated in the past three months. The Animal Husbandry department must take care of the clinic facilities but they are short-staffed. This is the problem, the official says.