| Section III – Decision Making Authority & Accountability Bangalore Mahanagara Palike(BMP)-CUPA Animal Birth Control Centre at the Municipal Dog Pound, Koramangala, Bangalore:
This centre is exclusively for the sterilisation, vaccination against rabies and euthanisation of stray dogs. Mr. Bala Subramaniam, with Trustee & Hon. Secretary, Mrs. Sanober Bharucha is in-charge. The BMP has constituted a Monitoring Committee for the ABC/ARV/ Euthanisation programme wherein records of work done are submitted to the BMP by the fifth of each month for the work completed the previous month. Background to ABC/ARV Programme The killing of stray dogs had been prevalent in Bangalore until May 1999 when the electrocution unit was dismantled. CUPA has past records showing over 100 dogs killed per day for many years….this, when Bangalore was a much smaller city, and such continuous killing should have resulted in a zero population of street dogs. However, this only proved that such mass slaughter did not eliminate or even control the stray dog population of the city. Stray Dog Census: A census of stray dogs in 2000 by PFA, Bangalore Chapter showed 74,000 stray dogs and State Government Animal Husbandry Department Livestock census in Nov' 2003 showed 56,146 stray dogs. This showed a reduction by 21%. Initiation of ABC/ARV/RE-VACCINATION/EUTHANASIA Programme by BMP: It is the responsibility of the City Corporation – BMP to provide a healthy and clean environment. As regards stray dog management, they wished to supplement their efforts and out-source a part of their work in this field. The Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules 2001 (as part of the prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 – a Central Act) also stipulates that NGOs assist, support and supplement the BMP activities in this area. It is a popular mis-conception that the ABC/ARV programme has been going on for the last 6-10 years.
After stopping the electrocution of dogs, the ABC/ARV/Euthanasia Programme was partially initiated in Oct 2000 by the BMP, whereby CUPA operated 600 dogs and humanely euthanized 150 terminally ill and unfit dogs every month. Deemed as a Pilot project, it continued until March 2003. In April 2003, it became a full-fledged BMP Programme, with the 100 wards of Bangalore, segmented for convenience, into 10 packages. After tenders were called for, the task was entrusted to four animal welfare organisations and the State Animal Husbandry Department, to catch 400 dogs per package, sterilise 300 and euthanize 100 unfit dogs, which were sick or rabid, every month. Apart from sterilization, vaccination and euthanasia of sick dogs, each package has to re-vaccinate 300 previously sterilised & vaccinated dogs. Until date, this is followed, and the areas serviced by the agencies are as follows: * CUPA: 34 wards of package 8,9,10 from ward nos 67 to 99.
* Karuna Animal Welfare Society: 15 wards of packages 1 & 2.
* Krupa…..Loving animals: 18 wards of packages 3 & 4
* Animal Rights Fund: 23 wards of packages 5 & 6
* State Animal Husbandry Department: 10 wards of package 7
The task of stray dog management involves: * Catching unsterilized dogs / releasing operated and vaccinated animals using vehicles, fuel, and man– power.
* Sheltering dogs involves pre-clinical examinations, operations, medications, feed, water and sanitation.
* Euthanasia involves medications and disposal.
The above exercise costs not less than Rs.420/- per dog. Yet CUPA supplements these costs despite delayed payments from the BMP. CUPA’s costs are as follows as per the Tender figures given to BBMP: a) Cost of ABC (including ARV) per Male dog : Rs 375-00
b) Cost of ABC (Including ARV) per Female dogs: Rs 395-00
c) Cost of ARV per dog : Rs. 40-00 (Termed Re-vaccination - not involving Sterilisation)
d) Cost of Euthanasia : Rs. 60-00
These costs include the following: Medications for sterilisations
Medications for Euthanasia
Salaries including PF & Insurance
Over-time for staff
Release expenses
Anti-Rabies vaccinations for sterilised dogs & re-vaccination programme
Vehicle maintenance that is heavy due to frequent runs
Diesel
Cleaning agents
Staff Uniforms
Anti-rabies vaccinations for staff handling the dogs
Medical equipments
Feeding
Stationary
Bowls, chains, collars etc.
Electricity charges
Water charges
Telephone charges
Hiring charges for the BBMP Dog catching vans
Constraints: * The city has grown exponentially in the last few years. Many areas have a single street separating the City Municipal Corporation (CMC) areas from the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) areas. The CMC areas have no dog control management in place. * CUPA, as the other agencies, have been strictly instructed not to operate outside BMP limits, even if there are dogs in areas which are just one road away from a particular ward. Since people and dogs cross freely, and in the absence of any control or management programme in the city municipalities, dogs are breeding and multiplying in these neglected areas. The figures, be they bites, canine numbers or pups etc, are added onto Bangalore City's ABC programme. * Slum dwellers, people in the low-income areas are highly protective of their dogs. They do not readily give them up for sterilisation. CUPA has often filed police complaints because the dog-catching staff was assaulted while catching dogs. * Further, many people often breed so-called pedigrees and dogs not sold, are abandoned, adding to the existing stray dog population. * Defence areas: These are campuses with vast acres and the dog squad can spend the whole day and catch only 1 or 2 dogs. These become breeding grounds. * Limited Vehicles: With only two functional dog-catching vehicles, for the 34 wards of Bangalore City, an approximate area of 100 sq. km., there is a tremendous constraint on basic resources to address critical issues .These issues need to be addressed urgently by the City administration. Medical Aspects: * The programme stipulates complete ovario-hysterectomy, so that females do not reproduce or come to heat after operation. * In males, complete castration is the norm. Male dogs tend to become less aggressive due to lack of testosterone because of this surgical intervention. * Ear notching in a U-shape is done surgically to permanently ensure identification of operated dogs. * During the revaccination programme, detailed records of not just the wards, but also the exact locations of dogs are maintained, and revaccination the next year is carried out in those exact places. Plastic coloured tape collars are used, to identify recently vaccinated animals. Records are available at the CUPA ABC Centre at Dog Pound, Koramangala, for verification. Release: Van supervisors maintain detailed records, as the programme is effective only when operated dogs are returned to the same areas. Records are available at the CUPA ABC Centre at Dog Pound, Koramangala for verification. Inspections: Reproductive organs are stored in formalin, and health inspectors from the BMP come once or twice in a week and count them to verify that the numbers tally with the number of sterilisations conducted. These organs are colour dyed to ensure complete transparency while counting. Senior Health Officers of the BMP very often visit the centre unannounced. Cost of human anti-Rabies vaccinations can reduce if the intra-dermal method of vaccination is followed, like in Thailand and Sri Lanka. Legal: The subject falls under the Animal Birth Control ( Dogs ) Rules, 2001 wherein all healthy stray dogs shall be sterilized, vaccinated against Rabies and released in the same locality ( Rule 7 ) and the sick, diseased and mortally injured dogs shall be euthanized painlessly ( Rule 9 )and rabid dogs shall be isolated and NOT put back on streets ( Rule 10 ). Rule 13 of the previously mentioned The ABC Rules overrides & prevails over all other Rules and Regulations, including the provisions of Karnataka Municipal Corporations Act, Karnataka Municipalities Act and Karnataka Police Act, which stipulate destruction of stray and ownerless dogs. BENEFITS OF ANIMAL BIRTH CONTROL/ANTI-RABIES VACCINATION & EUTHANISATION PROGRAMME: • Dogs do not breed and multiply. Puppies on Bangalore streets are visible, more as a matter of exception, than rule.
• Existing sterilized dogs will not allow new dogs to enter since dogs are territorial animals
• Prevents increase in dog population.
1. Control of Rabies - Rabies needs to be controlled in dogs first - administering ARV vaccines to dogs prevents the spread of rabies.
For the last 3 years, Bangalore city has been Rabies-free. It can be attributed to factors like increased awareness, availability of vaccines in BMP Health centres and increased inoculation of all dogs – stray, guardian and pet, through the ABC programme. 2. Control of nuisance factor - Nuisance, such as barking, fighting and aggression happens during mating season. Sterilisation prevents females from coming into heat and gradually reduces testerone levels in males.
Bangalore has had 7875 stray dog bites in a population of 70, 00,000 (100 wards of project area) from April-Dec.’06. (Source: Times of India) 3. Chasing - This is not true of all dogs. Such dogs, with residents' help should be be identified and removed. Veracity of the complaint must be checked, to prevent harmless, innocent animals from being removed. Stray dogs are domestic animals living with man from time immemorial - majority of them are owned or partially owned by people - belong to poorer sections of society ( watchmen, dhobiwallahs, slum-dwellers and even beggars ) - middle class people also look after them, ensuring the sterilisations and vaccinations of stray dogs in their community. Dogs have lived in harmony, for centuries with human beings. Dogs are domesticated animals. They are not wild or feral & cannot be compared with wild animals. They are community dogs as they live, eat & sleep with people on the streets. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended ABC along with other techniques for rabies and stray dog control after the failure of the culling or only killing programme. Report is available on request.
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