Stary dogs go missing in city

A month and a half ago, six street dogs which I usually fed every day, went missing. I heard that the Corporation van had taken them for sterilisation. I called up all the pounds and finally spoke to Dr Priya in one of the pounds, where these dogs were supposed to be housed. She said after the sterilisation, the dogs would be released within seven days. But even after 10 days, they were not back. So I kept on calling. 

After avoiding my calls initially, she told me that the dog catcher was not on duty. The next time, she said that the dogs have been relocated. But that’s not true at all. After the recent protest by animal activists at the Lloyd’s Road pound, one dog was returned to my locality. What about the rest? What is happening to them? The dog which was returned was not even sterilised and was in a weak condition. 

Location: ECR

On March 4, Karuppa, one of the dogs in my area, which was sterilised, was still taken by Corporation dog catchers from Agaram Junction (SRP Koil North Street). So I went to Pulianthope ABC pound in search of him but I was told that they stopped doing surgeries. Also they asked me to check in Lloyd’s colony ABC pound. So I visited Lloyds colony animal birth control centre of the Corporation of Chennai on March 7, 2016 at around 1 pm. 

When I met Manivannan, incharge of the pound, he couldn’t give any details of the dog based on the date of catching because he didn’t have a proper record. So, he let me inside to check in all the kennels. I was very disturbed to see the condition of the Kennels and the situation there. 

Nearly 20 dogs are kept suffocated with pregnant mothers and newborns in one small area, without food or even water. The rooms did not seem to be cleaned for more than 24 hours as it was full of dried faeces and urine. There were some carcasses of dead dogs lying in the room. In few kennels, I saw healthy puppies around 2 to 3 months old. I don’t know why a young pup was brought inside ABC pound. 

The situation is unbearable and the suffering of the animals is extreme. Finally, with a heavy heart I left the place without finding Karuppa. 

Shanmuga Sundaram, an animal lover and rescuer 

Location: Peravallur 

I feed a few street dogs outside my office. In December 2015, five dogs were taken. I called up all the pounds – from Kannammapet to Lloyd’s road. Finally, they identified the dog but they couldn’t give any concrete information. 

After endless calls, two dogs were released back in the area but three are still missing. It has been more than three months now. 

In my area, I have seen lots of new dogs being dropped off. These dogs are traumatised and as a result, there are fights with the dogs already there. 

One of my dogs went missing six months ago but I managed to track it down. I think that it is important to sterilise these dogs. The NGOs and Corporation should work together in the best interests of our street dogs.