Jeypore civic body mulls birth control unit for strays

KORAPUT: The Jeypore Municipality has decided to approach the housing and urban development department for setting up an animal birth control (ABC) unit, which includes a canine hospital with operation theatre and shelter home, to check the stray dog problem in the town.
"As there has been a steady increase in the number of stray dogs and people are facing many problems, we have decided to launch the ABC programme," Sidharth Patnaik, executive officer, Jeypore Municipality, said.
He added, "The housing and urban development department will be requested to set up a special unit for implementation of the programme. The aim of the scheme is to safeguard citizens and stabilise the population of stray dogs over a period of time."
As per the programme, the stray dogs shall be sterilised and immunised under the supervision of officials concerned of the veterinary department.
Patnaik said the proposed canine facility will have separate divisions and rooms for animals, including space for cages, an open space and a sterilisation room.
"The ABC unit will have an operation theatre and at least 20 dogs could be sterilised at the canine facility centre at a time. They animals will be kept under observation for at least 15 days before being discharged. Also, apart from sterilisation, anti-rabies vaccines will be administered to stray dogs. A special flying squad will be deployed with a dog catching vehicle," said Patnaik.
The town reportedly has over 3,000 stray dogs.