PMC claims no death due to rabies since 2018
Pune Municipal Corporation recently informed that strict action and proper planning towards sterilisation, vaccination of stray dogs has resulted in decline in number of deaths due to rabies.
Akansha Kumari
Since 2018, there are no deaths due to rabies in the Pune Municipal Corporation jurisdiction. More 60,000 stray dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated by PMC. The civic body by 2030 aims at making Pune city ‘0’ in deaths due to rabies. To conduct the mammoth task of vaccinating and sterilising stray dogs the civic body has appointed two NGO’S.
Measures to reduce the infestation of stray dogs in the city has been taken by the Health Department to control the population of stray dogs in the city.
Two dog pounds owned by Pune Municipal Corporation are newly developed and a total of 3 dog pounds have been handed over to a private NGO through a joint project for sterilization of stray dogs with anti-rabies vaccine and collar belt on their neck. This will also bring down the expenditure made on these stray animals.
Based on this, the Pune Municipal Corporation has tied up with an NGO to build dog houses on vacant land and to capture stray dogs in their own vehicles and release them after sterilization. Two other private NGOs are being hired to increase the sterilization of stray dogs.
Dogs caught without sterilization surgery are taken to an Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) accredited body for surgery in a closed vehicle.
After the surgery, the dogs are vaccinated against rabies and a belt/collar is placed around the dog’s neck for vaccination of different colors according to the fiscal year.
“To catch stray and stray dogs from PMC, there are 5 dog vehicles, divisional office wise made available. In order to catch stray and stray dogs, a recognized organization of Animal Welfare Board of India has been appointed on dog vehicle and skilled staff has been made available. Due to the appointment of new additional NGO, apart from 5 dog vehicles of the corporation, a total of 8 other 3 vehicles are working,” Dr. Sarika Funde, a veterinary surgeon with PMC told Pune Pulse.
PMC has set aside funds of Rs 3 crores 60 lakhs and Universal Animal Welfare Association, Pune based NGO has been assigned the work of sterilisation and vaccination.
Below is the data of Month wise Animal Birth Control campaign
May 2020 – 226
June 2020 – 447
July 2020 – 1309
August 2020 – 1707
Sept 2020 – 1674
Oct 2020 – 1747
Nov 2020 – 1173
Dec 2020 – 1669
Jan 2021 – 1470
Feb 2021 – 1304
March 2021 – 1411
Total – 14,137
