IE: Animal lovers launch helpline for dog bite victims, stray dogs: July 14, 2009

 A Group of animal lovers in the city have launched a round-the-clock helpline service that will cater to both the stray dogs in distress and the victims of dog bite. Volunteers at the helpline service, named Navkar, can be contacted at 26581924/5.

A meeting in this regard was held at Gujarat Vidyapith on Sunday under the aegis of People for Animals, a voluntary body run by Mahendra Shrimali. The meeting took a serious view of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) not following the Dog Rules, 2001.

Shrimali said the “well-attended” meeting expressed concern over reports that the AMC was indulging in sterilising dogs, which were already sterilised. He said this was brought to the notice of the local police.

He further claimed that nearly half of the sterilised dogs died due to infections after the operations. As such, there is a stay on the sterilisation programme due to differences between the AMC and the sterilisation agency.

Interestingly, not a single AMC official attended the meeting despite being invited to the same.

One more helpline is in the pipeline by one Samir Shah who plans to name it Bhagwan Mahavir Helpline, the number of which is yet to be finalised. A volunteer force is also being brought up area wise, which will be capable of reaching the trouble spot within half an hour, Shrimali said.

URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/animal-lovers-launch-helpline-for-dog-bite-victims-stray-dogs/488432/