Only 42% stray dogs sterilized, says survey

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The findings of the recently held dog population management survey states that only 42% of the stray dogs in the city are sterilized in the district so far.
The survey was conducted by the Worldwide Veterinary Service taskforce for dog population management and Compassion for Animal Welfare Association (CAWA) in association with the Thiruvananthapuram municipal corporation (TMC). The survey was held as part of rabies free Thiruvananthapuram being implemented in corporation limits with the assistance of National Dairy Development Board and its subsidiary Indian Immunologicals Ltd.
A stratified random sampling of 100 wards by combining 10 wards under a zone was conducted as part of the survey. The major objectives of the project included mapping transect survey routes in the corporation area, conducting free roaming dog sight surveys, recording the demography of stray dogs, proportion of pups, overall health of the dogs , abundance per kilometre and size of the free roaming dog population in the city.
The survey results show that only four zones comprising 10 wards each recorded 50% or more sterilization of stray dogs. Zone 7 recorded the lowest proportion of sterilized dogs - 9%. Wards like Kottapuram, Vizhinjam, Harbour, Vellar, Thiruvallam, Poonthura, Ambalathara, Kamaleswaram, Kalipankulam, Attukal are included in this zone.
The lowest percentage of sterilization has been recorded mostly in coastal wards like Poonthura, Harbour, Vizhinjam and Kottapuram. The proportion of sterilized dogs was less than 50% in zone 4 which includes Peroorkada, represented by Jameela Sreedharan, chairperson of the health standing committee.
The overall sterilization coverage of the free-roaming dogs was mid-way indicating that the programme currently in action needs a boost to improve the coverage and override the breeding potential that may contribute to population growth in future, the report notes.
It recommends that the corporation shall assess the number of dogs sterilized from each ward and compare annual DPM (dog population management) surveys to assess dog abundance and neuter coverage in each ward, in order to review the strategy and budgets for the on-going DPM programmes.