GUNTUR : The Guntur Municipal Corporation (GMC) is taking steps to address the stray dog menace by implementing a special action plan for mass anti-rabies vaccination.
The civic body has become increasingly vigilant following a series of incidents where stray dogs attacked children and the elderly. The GMC’s veterinary wing has identified over 20,000 stray dogs in the city, and complaints about these dogs have surged recently. The issue was brought into sharp focus after a six-year-old boy and a seven-year-old girl were attacked by packs of stray dogs in quick succession.
A Rangaraju, a resident of AT Agraharam, expressed concern over the growing stray dog menace in Guntur district. “During the night, over 20 to 30 stray dogs roam the streets and chase vehicles. We are afraid to go out late at night because of these dogs,” he said. Rangaraju pointed out that poor sanitation exacerbates the problem, with many dogs gathering near dumping bins where heaps of waste are left on the roadside. He urged civic officials to take immediate action to address the issue.
In response to the rising complaints, the GMC has decided to ramp up the sterilisation of stray dogs in the city. GMC Commissioner Kirthi Chekuri announced that the State government has contracted the Haryana-based Sneh Welfare Society, recognised by the National Animal Welfare Organisation, to carry out the sterilisation and mass anti-rabies vaccination drive from 2023 to 2026.
Under the supervision of the GMC officials committee and experts at the Animal Birth Control Centre on Etukuru Road, sterilisation surgeries will be conducted on street dogs. Following surgery, the dogs will receive necessary medical care and will be released back into their original locations once fully recovered.
The chief emphasised that only trained GMC staff would be involved in capturing the dogs and called on citizens, animal welfare organisations, and dog lovers to cooperate with the officials in this effort.
