more-in Dog lovers from across the city allege that GHMC is violating animal protection norms while carrying out birth control programme and vaccination. “A three-month-old pup with one eye was picked up from Venkatramana Colony in Khairtabad at the behest of a neighbour on February 5. The GHMC has not returned the dog to our neighbourhood yet,” said Saritha Naidu, a resident of the area. Ms. Naidu said dog-catchers told them that the dogs they catch were to be transported outside the city, where they are dumped. As per the regulations of the Animal Welfare Board of India, dogs picked up for anti-rabies vaccination and sterilisation have to be returned to the area where they were picked up. In Kavadiguda’s Padmashali Colony, two families who have been taking care of 10 dogs said they were left shocked on March 21 when they learnt dog-catchers had rounded up the animals without any intimation. “When we got to know our dogs had been rounded up, we called the GHMC’s Central Zone office, which directed us to the Amberpet Animal Shelter. We could not find them at the facility,” said G. Saritha, a resident of Padmashali Colony in Kavadiguda. Similar complaints were raised by residents of Manikonda, Baghlingampally, Amberpet, and Sainikpuri. Members of the Sainikpuri ‘Cares 4 Strays’ group that coordinates animal welfare and rescue activities through WhatsApp, claimed a female dog with clipped ears had given birth in Sainikpuri. They also alleged staff at Autonagar Animal Shelter, which carries out the animal birth control programme in their area, was not responsive. When contacted for response about the allegations, P. Venkateshwar Reddy, Chief Veterinary Officer for GHMC, denied the allegations of violation. “Actions taken under the programme are shared with top GHMC administration daily. Often, our staff is caught between residents who want strays to remain and those who want them out of the neighbourhood,” he said, adding that visits to shelters during visiting hours have not been restricted.

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