'No poison shots, shelter for three days'; Govt releases guidelines for euthanasia of stray dogs

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Aggressive stray dogs will be culled using medicinal injections. They will not be shot or poisoned, nor killed in front of other dogs. These are the guidelines issued by the state government on Monday. The action follows the Supreme Court order that euthanasia can be used to solve the problem of stray dogs.

Dogs caught for killing should be kept in a rehabilitation centre or shelter for two to three days. Dog lovers can take them home during this time and raise them. The information about the dogs should also be displayed on the notice board.

The cost of killing the dog should be borne by the local bodies. The state-level monitoring committee will evaluate the euthanasia implemented by the local bodies every month. Dogs that pose a threat to the public, those that attack humans or other animals without provocation, can also be killed. Dogs that are rabid and seriously injured, and impossible to be treated and cured, can also be killed.

Seven-member committee

A seven-member committee consisting of the chairperson, chairman and secretary-convener of the local body should seek permission to kill dogs. The other members are the ward member, veterinary surgeon, medical officer, project in-charge of the ABC centre, and a member of the Animal Welfare Board. At least the support of five members is required for the killing of a dog.

Create a register of dogs that are killed. The dog's information, the place where it was caught, its picture, and the reason for euthanasia should be recorded. The veterinary surgeon should confirm the death. The register should record this. The government should protect the officer who injects the drug to kill and those who help in it.

A drug called pentobarbital sodium is injected for the euthanasia of ordinary dogs. This is a type of anaesthetic drug. Dogs can die if injected with more than the prescribed dose.