Dhapa dog pound to be shifted; search for land initiated by KMC

Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) Mayor Sovan Chatterjee on Monday said that the corporation will shift its dog pound from Dhapa to some other place. KMC has initiated a search for the new place and the land will be identified soon.

The issue of shifting the dog pound from Dhapa was raised during Mayor's meeting with Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi on Monday. Ghadhi came to meet the city Mayor at his office and requested him to solve some civic issues regarding an NGO Aashari. Vice-chairperson of West Bengal Animal Welfare Board Debashree Roy and member, Mayor-in-Council (Health) Atin Ghosh were present in the meeting.

"KMC's dog pound is situated on a ground at Dhapa. But now it is necessary to shift it elsewhere as residential complexes are coming up in the area," the Mayor said after meeting the Union Cabinet Minister for Women and Child Development.

Meanwhile, the Gandhi requested the Mayor to solve drainage, drinking water and property tax-related issues of the NGO Aashari, which has been providing shelter to street animals. "I have talked to the Mayor about some civic issues and I am really happy after meeting him," Gandhi said.

However, it may be mentioned that KMC earlier decided to look after the Dhapa dog pound on its own which cost Rs two lakh to rejuvenate it.

The civic body has also undertaken sterilisation process and the dogs are left back at the place from where they are caught after the sterilisation, a senior KMC officer said adding, the new place for the dog pound will be somewhere in South 24 Parganas.

Around three hundred stray dogs can be sheltered at the Dhapa dog pound which also has three operation theatres. Veterinary doctors have been appointed for taking care of the dogs.

"We have earlier rejuvenated the dog pound. But now, we need to rebuild the dog pound for its betterment," the Mayor said while replying to a question.

The civic body recently started a trauma care centre for dogs at Entally where veterinary surgeons registered under the West Bengal Veterinary Council are available. The dog pound which deals with sterilisation has no facility to treat wounded dogs though. This new trauma care centre can accommodate over 35 dogs at a time.

Notably, the KMC conducts regular drives for sterilisation of dogs at the Dhapa pound. The civic body is also planning to provide land to the state government for setting up a multi-super specialty hospital for animals.