Chennai Has Put 2800 Street Dogs To Sleep In The Last 4 Years

As many as 2,790 dogs were euthanised over the past four years in Chenai, revealed an RTI application filed by OnlineRTI.com.

thehindu

The reply said 768 stray dogs were killed in 2011-12, 696 in 2012-13, 698 in 2013-14 and 628 in 2014-15.

While Greater Chennai Corporation officials claimed that only dogs suffering mortal wounds or an incurable disease are being euthanised, activists have raised concerns on these claims. "We are handing over stray dogs to three animal welfare organisations Blue Cross, People For Animals (PFA) and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for sterilisation programme. We have nothing to do with the mercy killings of dogs," said an official. He said mercy killing is given by administering an overdose of sodium pentathol drugs that will cause respiratory arrest in a few seconds. Blue Cross of India general manager Don Williams declined to comment.

Vinod Ranganathan, who filed the RTI query, said the civic body and NGOs should explain how they identify dogs for mercy killing. "There is no transparency , it has remained a secret. Elimination is easy as they are stray dogs."

TOI

According to the civic body's records, they have spent Rs 81.16 lakh in 2013-14 and Rs 37.65 lakh in 2014-15 to sterilise 29,967 and 24,156 dogs, respectively. The civic body is currently paying Rs 420 a dog to three NGOs for sterilisation programme based on organ counts. Rule 9 of the Animal Birth Control Rules (Dogs), 2001, states: "Incurably ill and mortally wounded dogs as diagnosed by a qualified veterinarian appointed by the committee shall be euthanised during specified hours in a humane manner by administering sodium pentathol for adult dogs and thiopental introperitoneal for puppies by a qualified veterinarian or euthanised in any other humane manner approved by Animal Welfare Board of India."

Till 1995, it was common practice in Chennai to shoot street dogs or cull them using lethal drugs; they were also electrocuted and poisoned.

It was in 1996 when corporation commissioner M Abul Hassan permitted Blue Cross to carry out Animal Birth Control programme replacing the notorious 'catch and kill policy'.

AWBI vice-chairman S Chinny Krishna said the civic body used to kill at least 135 dogs a day in 1996.