‘Animal rights activists should let LMC tackle dog menace’

LUCKNOW: The ‘canine terror’ in Sitapur has come as a cause of concern for the Lucknow Municipal Corporation bosses.

Chief veterinary officer, LMC, Dr Arvind Rao said the civic body has not got any official request from Sitapur authorities for help.

“If we are not allowed to work properly in Lucknow, then what will we be able to do in Sitapur? The interference of animal rights activists and some organisations has led to this situation that dogs are killing kids. Now, these organisations should take the responsibility of these deaths.”

These organisations formed pressure groups and stopped municipal authorities from acting even against mad dogs, said Rao.

“If the LMC has to catch dogs for sterilisation, they have to drop them back at the place from where they were picked up. Some animal rights activists keep harassing the civic squad whenever they go to catch dogs for sterilisation. The LMC has a poor experience of handing over sterilisation work to an NGO, which only minted money and gave no results,” he added.

It’s because of such pressure groups dogs can be seen chasing kids going to schools in the morning or parks in the evening, said Rao.

According to Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001, sterilisation is the sole way to control the population of stray animals.

Resentment is brewing among residents as the rate of sterilisation in Lucknow is just 3 or 4 dogs per day whereas the street dog population is over 60,000 in the city.

Dr Arvind Rao said, “When we are unable to control dog menace in Lucknow due to these NGOs that have mushroomed just for the sake of foreign grant, what will we do in Sitapur? There too, some NGOs will stop our drives.”

These activists should let municipal authorities tackle the menace or it will keep on increasing, he emphasised.

Municipal commissioner Udairaj Singh said despite all odds, the LMC is keen to help the Sitapur administration, if they ask for it. There are adequate (74) dog catchers in the LMC, he said.