Jalandhar: Stray dogs create havoc, five kennels to be built soon

Jalandhar: The persistent problem of stray dogs continues to be a cause of concern among the city’s residents and is frequently discussed in the Municipal Corporation’s (MC) General House Meeting. Councillors raised the issue in the last General House Meeting as well. Municipal officials stated that the corporation is continuously making efforts to control the stray dog ​​population and ensure public safety. According to officials, approximately 40,000 stray dogs have been sterilized in the city since 2017. Sterilization and vaccination drives are being conducted regularly under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programs. An official said, “Sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination of stray dogs are ongoing under the ABC and ARV programs. These efforts are being implemented simultaneously to effectively control the dog population and reduce health risks.” To speed up this process, plans are underway to increase sterilization capacity in the coming months. Currently, there are 17 kennels in the city, while five new ones will be built soon. Officials said that once these facilities are operational, the sterilization capacity will double. Furthermore, following the Deputy Commissioner’s directives, the sterilization drive is now being conducted ward-wise.

The official said, “So far, approximately 1,000 dogs have been sterilized in 10 to 11 wards. Work is currently underway in wards 8 and 9.” The Municipal Corporation has also identified land for a dedicated dog shelter in the Nangal Shama area. It is hoped that this shelter will provide better care for stray dogs and help handle angry or injured animals. To better respond to complaints, the corporation is also in the process of purchasing a dog-catching vehicle. Officials said, “Tenders have been issued for the catching vehicle, which will help us respond to complaints more effectively.” Despite these measures, people continue to face difficulties daily. The Municipal Corporation reportedly receives around five complaints daily regarding stray dog ​​problems. Bank employee Ravneet Kaur described her ordeal, saying that stray dogs have made commuting stressful. She said, “Whenever I ride my Activa, stray dogs often chase me. I’m forced to drive fast, which has caused the vehicle to skid several times. It’s very dangerous.” People have appealed to authorities to resolve the issue as soon as possible, stressing that while the welfare of animals is important, public safety should be paramount.