Managing Stray Animals in SGPGIMS

When I joined SGPGI in the summer 1987, I had no patients to see. I was made chariman of the "Pig Chasing Committee". Life has come full circle with my recent elevation to a similar post. But compassionate handling of these unfortunate creations is something we can't close our eyes to. Each evening, when my pet Neal wags his tail and jumps into the back seat of my car for a ride, the orphaned, tick infested emaciated young mother of three liters on the road looks at me with doleful eyes and asks " Why don't you love me too?". And I have no decent answer!

Current Activities of Stray Animal Managment Committee

Mrs. Reema Singh and Dr. Manish Tiwari from Animal Ashram visited the institute on 2nd January 2010 at 3 pm, met with the Director, Dr RK Sharma and members of the committee, and took a round of the campus to evaluate the problem.

They informed the director and the members of the following:

1. The only humane and legal way to deal with stray dogs is to prevent/reduce their breeding (female dogs often produce 3 liters every year). This can be achieved by performing a sterization operation on the female dogs.

2. They need to be transported to Animal Ashram for the surgery. It takes aroud 7-10 days from surgery to removal of stitches. They may be immunized against rabies during their hospitalization.

3. These animals will then be brought back and left in their habitats for living as before.

4. It would be desirable for local animal/stray-dog lovers to partner with them and to help them catch and take the animals for sterilization.

5. Local members should constitute an advocacy group to create awareness amongst campus dwellers abut this operation. There should be no misgiving regarding the intentions, ethicality and the nature of treatment meted out to these animals.

6. The centre has performed 245 such surgeries with more than 99% success and safety.

7. The Director, Dr RK Sharma, appreciated the efforts made by the NGO Animal Ashram and offered to provide logistic and medical support to them for their services.

8. It was decided that local advocacy group be created for sensitizing people in the campus.

     a) Type V & IV : Dr.Kumudini Sharma, Dr. Jyotsna, Dr Priti Dabadgao, Dr Piyali Bhattacharya, Dr Ujjala Ghoshal (Old campus)

    b) New Campus: Dr. Hem Chandra, Dr. Prerna Kapoor, Mr. and Mrs SN Semwal,

    c) Type II & III: Mr. Sunil Shishoo Mrs.Janet

9. Mr.Om Prakash was requested to provide a census of number and location of female dogs in the campus, within one week

10. The process could start as soon as the information was made available to Dr. Tiwari.

Dr. Prerna was requested to take a leadership role in this venture.

Managing stray animals in SGPGI campus

The vast 400 acres of SGPGI campus is home to several animals :dogs,blue bulls,monkeys,langoors,rabits and others.The population of stray dogs has been a matter of concern for campus dwellers:their population is growing, they breed 2-3 times a year, they are emaciated and parasite infested and they could be a source of rabies/dog bites for people.

To manage them, the director Dr R. K. Sharma has constituted a committee. The committee’s plan is to seek a kind and humane solution for :

1. Reducing the population of stray dogs

2. Ensuring that they do not contract and spread rabies

3. That they are looked after reasonably for food and shelter if possible.

As a first step, the committee contacted an expert Mrs. Reema Singh and an NGO(Animal Ashram : Dr. Manish Tiwari,9450719284) that deals with this problem.They are expected to visit SGPGI on 2nd January for consultation and survey.In the meantime ,Mr. Om Prakash has tried to count the number of dogs in the cmpus and provided a figure of 47.Dr.Hem Chandra recommended Mr & Mrs Semval for inclusion in the committee as they are dog lovers and care for these stray animals.We are requesting them to join in this task.