MC plans to develop dog feeding corners

CHANDIGARH: The municipal corporation has asked resident welfare associations (RWAs) to suggest a place in their sectors where it can develop a dog feeding corner.
The civic authorities have been receiving a number of complaints against dog lovers who feed stray canines on the streets, due to which packs become permanent residents of the neighbourhood. Considering this situation, the MC has decided to shortlist a place where anybody can come and feed stray dogs, so that they don't have to patrol the streets in search of food.
When asked about the plan, municipal commissioner K K Yadav said: "The civic authorities have asked the RWAs to mark some areas that are popular with the dog feeders. It will be of great help to us in finding out a suitable site for the dog feeding corner. There are religious sentiments attached to feeding dogs. This feeding corner will serve the purpose of the people who do ritual feeding of dogs but don't want to adopt these animals and give them a home."
He hopes that the plan will reduce the cases of dog bite in the city. These are being reported from various sectors, since the canine population has multiplied. Another issue before the residents is of mad or irritable dogs that keep attacking people. Vijay Shikhar, a resident of Sector 41, said: "The problem is that the civic authorities do not even act on our complaint about dog attack. We remain scared of those aggressive packs. We are well aware of the MC's rules of dog-catching, that it brings the animal back to the streets from where it is lifted, but it should keep mad dogs forever at least for the safety of the public."
Joginder Singh of Sector 38 said: "We the residents are helpless and there is no action by the MC either to contain the menace of stray dogs. In a number of meetings with the MC, we have raised this issue with its officials but all in vain. We even took a representation to the civic authorities to suggest them a few solutions of the problem. Many of us are scared to even step out of the home for the fear of stray dogs that are on the prowl outside."
Residents said that earlier the population of stray dogs in the city was within limit and animal attacks were rare. But for the past few months, the situation has become worse and dogs have started attacking the visitors. Senior citizens especially avoid their evening stroll in the neighbourhood parks now for the fear of these packs. Even though dog catchers visit the area and sterilise the stray dogs, it has not solved the problem. The dogs stay aggressive and residents stray scared.
MC commissioner Yadav promised to come up with a place where unhealthy dogs will be under observation for a few days and given medication before they are released back into their areas.