Pune's Dog Problem

City of Pune is always discussing this issue and every time this issue comes up, both sides of argument, in and against killings of the dogs, debates it fiercely. A Supreme Court judgement prohibiting killing stray dogs has compounded the matter.

Last year, while one death occured in the Pun Municipal limits on account of dog bites, 28 people in the district succumbed to dog bites. Year 2007 also saw 3,199 dog bite cases while there were 2,935 such cases in previous year. According to the PMI’s health department, the estimated number of stray dogs in Pun is over 40,000 and about 150-200 dog bites cases are registered daily in the city.
Dr. Babasaheb Kalhapure, of Animal Farm, an animal rescue centre in Wade Bolhai says, "Dogs attack by virtue of hormonal imbalance. If the dogs operated on for sterilisation, there will be no problem of these attacks."

Asked about the details of dogs’ sterilisation, Dr. Kalhapure says, "PMC and NGOs like us together can sterilise 400 to 500 dogs daily. But that is not happening as there is no initiative from PMC. As of today, about 25,000 dogs are sterilised in Pune alone. If PMC shows any kind of readiness for action, NGOs are ready to co-operate."

Dr. Sucheta Visvanathan, who is also involved with dog rescue activity in the city, says, "The only remedy is the sterilization program. Sterilized dogs are more controlled and they usually do not attack anybody." Citing her experience in Delhi, she says that even if stray dogs are killed or removed to other areas, dogs from other areas will take their place."
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Menace in a Glance
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No. of Stray Dogs :
40,000 (In PMC limits)
Sterilised Dogs (approx.) :
25,000 (In PMC limits)
Cost of Sterilisation :
Rs. 470 (Each dog)
Shelters for Dogs :
7
Dog bites Cases Registered:
4290
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Solace in the Offing
According to Dr. Kalhapure, a research is going on about the anti-rabies capsule which will be available in the market. This capsule will cost Rs. 35 to 40. At present, only anti-rabies injections are available for treatment which cost Rs. 375 each. A four injection course cost more than Rs. One thousand.
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Humanity Goes to Dogs
In a shocking incident just two months ago, a day old baby girl was bitten to death by stray dogs after she was abandoned in the middle of the road at Kondhwa.
One Suresh More spotted the infant on the NIBM road while he was on his way home around 3 am. He and another resident of area Avinash Tejija drove away the dogs and More alerted the police.
The infant was immediately taken to Sassoon hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries within 30 minutes.

(Published in Pune Mirror on 9 April 2008)