The municipal corporation is relying on more than six-year-old data to plan its stray dog sterilisation drive even as dog bite cases in Ludhiana continue to rise, with the latest livestock census data yet to be authenticated and released by the Union animal husbandry department.
The 20th Livestock Census, conducted in 2019-20, recorded 29,998 stray dogs in Ludhiana district. The 21st census was conducted about 1.5 years ago, but its data is yet to be released as it is awaiting authentication by the Union animal husbandry department, officials said.
Municipal health officer Dr Vipan Malhotra said the animal husbandry department collected the animal population data.
Director of animal husbandry Paramdeep Singh Walia confirmed that the latest census data was still awaiting authentication, leaving the civic body dependent on the previous census figures. Officials said the absence of updated data made it difficult to determine the scale of the sterilisation programme and the resources required to tackle the stray dog population. Without census data, you won’t know the size of the problem you are dealing with, so how can you be effective?” said deputy director, Animal husbandry department, Dr Deepak Jangra.
“The census is conducted precisely to equip policymakers with the information needed to channel the resources required to take up sterilisation campaigns. The member also identified inadequate funding as a major constraint. Sterilisation at a private clinic costs nearly ₹ 7,000 per dog, while MC tenders provide ₹ 1,200 to ₹ 1,500 per animal, according to the member.
A member of the Society for Protection of Animals Against Cruelty (SPAC), speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Lack of reliable population data has also made it difficult to determine the number of dogs that needed to be targeted. “Even the products required for the process cost over ₹ 1,000,” the member said. The member said each dog also needed to be kept under observation for nearly five days after the procedure and treated for any complications, limiting the number of animals that could be handled at a time.
