Lieutenant-Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena has recently approved the allotment of land in Vasant Kunj for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to set up a Dog Sterilisation Centre-cum-
Veterinary Hospital and Dispensary.
The development comes amid rising instances of stray dog attacks in the past few months. One such case was reported from the Rangpuri Pahari Basti in the Vasant Kunj area in April, where two minor brothers were mauled to death by canines in a span of three days.
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has allotted 483 square metres of land to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to develop the facility under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode.
Approving the proposal, Mr. Saxena, who is also the Chairman of the DDA, directed the authority to ensure that stray dogs are treated free of cost since Veterinary Clinics are an essential municipal service. He added that the MCD should use the revenue generated from services and treatments of pets belonging to the private citizens to run the facility.
The expenses for construction, medical equipment, operations and staff for the facility shall be borne by the PPP partner, selected through the bidding process. The chosen bidder will pay an Annual License Fee to the MCD, which has already opened tenders for the project.
Spaying female dogs and cats eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer. Neutering male dogs and cats reduces the incidence of prostate cancer. Neutered animals are less likely to roam and fight.Generally, spayed and neutered pets live a healthier, longer, and happier lives.
Sterilization is important for street /stray dogs as they can also carry a variety of zoonotic diseases such as rabies, posing a significant risk to human and dog population health. Dog sterilisation is one of the most humane and effective methods available to control street dog population.
