How to Handle the Problem of Stray Dogs?

August 5, 2014

Many of us consider dogs to be man’s best friend, and a good number of citizens especially empathize with strays and encourage them by feeding them and offering shelter. While sometimes, stray dogs may be a nothing more than a nuisance, there are times when a stray dog poses a danger to us and our families.

A dog bite can be very dangerous if the dog has not been vaccinated, or has rabies. Dogs may sometimes turn feral and form packs that have been known to maul and severely injure and kill people, especially young children. It is therefore important to know what to do when faced with a stray dog menace.

Who is the Authority Responsible?

The Dog License Establishment (DLE) of the MCGM is the authority responsible for sterilizing and vaccinating stray dogs.

How do I Contact Them?

The contact numbers of the various offices of the DLE, and another organisation that handles this are given below. Call the centre closest to your location, and they will despatch a van to pick up, sterilize and vaccinate strays in your area, and drop them back to their original location:

How do Stray Dogs Survive in an Area?

It is believed that stray dogs survive due to easy availability of food discarded in dustbins on the street. These dustbins overflow onto the roads, attracting these hungry and territorial animals. They soon grow in numbers creating packs, thereby posing a safety issue to the public.

Points to Remember:

• If you own a pet dog, it is extremely important that your pet dog has a licence. Contact the numbers above and enquire about getting a licence.
• The anti rabies vaccine is available in 16 hospitals and 13 dispensaries of the MCGM.
• If someone is a victim of a dog bite, act promptly and take them to your nearest hospital.

Source: This information was obtained from the MCGM.

Tags: Civic Services

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