Blue Cross to vaccinate 6,000 stray dogs

HYDERABAD: "Hyderabad is going to become a rabies-free city in the next two years," said Amala Akkineni, founder of the Blue Cross Society of Hyderabad said.The NGO has taken up a month-long campaign to vaccinate 6,000 stray dogs through the Animal Birth Control and Rabies Vaccination programme. Blue Cross will also work with other animal welfare organisations to create awareness about the campaign. "The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has agreed to vaccinate 5,000 more animals," said Amala.The animal rights activist took exception to killing of dogs in different parts of the state after dog-biting incidents. She said, "Killing stray dogs is never going to solve problem. New dogs invariably take its place because of availability of garbage and food waste." She added that people should alert the GHMC or other agencies for catching the dog, instead of killing them. "Sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs is the only way to reduce their population. Blue Cross is actively working in GHMC circles 10, 11, 12 and 13 to sterilise and vaccinate around 8,000  dogs every year," Amala said.GHMC chief veterinary officer D Venkateshawar Reddy said the civic body has taken up anti-rabies vaccination of all stray dogs. "Sterilised and vaccinated street dogs will not allow new dogs to enter the locality creating a rabies-free zone," Reddy said.Despite conducting animal birth control operations and anti-rabies vaccinations, if one is bitten by a dog, they should report it immediately to the veterinary section of the GHMC. The numbers are: 9989930359, 9989930358 (South Zone), 9291522440, 9989930357 (East Zone), 9704456521, 9989930356 (Central Zone), 9000901937, 9989994470 (West Zone) and 9989930397, 9963123073 (North Zone).