HYDERABAD: In the name of animal rescue, animal birth control and anti-rabies (ABC/AR) vaccination programme for stray dogs, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has been putting many dogs to sleep. The dogs are kept under ABC/AR or medical treatment for a week or more in the animal rescue centres which have neither adequate infrastructure nor the required number of veterinary doctors. During their stay at the rescue centres, the health of the canines gradually worsens after which they are given euthanasia. The corporation is allowed to put them to sleep once their health condition deteriorates by 80 percent. Disturbed by the alleged negligence of the GHMC officials, animal rights activists have threatened legal action against the corporation. On an average, about 300 stray dogs are rescued by the GHMC staff of which at least fifty are killed. About 2,545 stray dogs were killed in the past six months. They are later buried in the ‘Dog Dumping Area’ in Autonagar, as per the GHMC records. Animal rights activist and founder of Caring Hands For Animals (CHFA) B Padmaja disapproves of the “indiscriminate” killing of stray dogs and says the GHMC should undertake mercy killing only in extreme cases. “Euthanasia can be administered to stray dogs only in specific cases as per the guidelines of the World Health Organisation. The GHMC does not stick to these guidelines,” she alleges and adds, "If the GHMC does not make an attempt to reduce mercy-killings, all animal welfare organisations will come together to discuss legal action against it. One-and-half-years ago, the GHMC converted dog pounds into animal rescue centres but hasn’t maintained proper records. Padmaja claims. P Venkateshwar Reddy, chief veterinary officer of GHMC, however, says the corporation set up five animal rescue centres to catch stray dogs. “We are working on the shortcomings. Within a year, the rescue centres will be adequately equipped,” he asserts.
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