Dog census in Ahmedabad from August

GANDHINAGAR - Ahmedabad will carry out its first dog census from next month, becoming possibly the second city in India after Jodhpur to do a canine headcount, an official said Sunday.

With a human population of about six million, Ahmedabad is estimated to have about 300,000 dogs.

Municipal commissioner I.P. Gautam told IANS that the offer to carry out the dog census for free has come from Australia-based Humane Society International (HSI) whose CEO Andrew Rowan visited Ahmedabad Saturday and met him.

The organisation has been working in the field internationally.

Ahmedabad has been in the news for its runaway stray dog population and the municipal corporation last week signed a memorandum of understanding with the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) for its animal birth control programme for sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs in the city.

AWBI will bear 50 percent of the total expenses incurred.

According to an estimate, about 500 dog bite cases turn up daily at the three hospitals that vaccinate victims and, though administered for free, each dose costs the civic body over Rs.200 with each victim required to take at least five doses.

The census is expected to take two months to complete and will benefit the Ahmedabad civic body in as much as it will provide a clear estimate of the dog population in the city for the first time.

A similar census was earlier carried out in Jodhpur town of Rajasthan and the dog population controlled considerably through sterilisation.