'END' project that never took off in Kerala

THRISSUR: The 'END' (Early Neutering in Dogs) project, which allows people to raise neutered puppies to curb the spread of stray dogs, never took off despite being announced a decade back. This project sterilizes puppies between eight and 12 weeks old and puts them up for adoption.

Dr. M.K. Narayanan, the Dean of Pookode Veterinary and Animal Science, conceived the project in 2010, while he was a teacher at Mannuthy Veterinary College. The aim was to enable birth control of dogs with the help of the Animal Husbandry Department.

In 2012, 300 puppies were distributed in this way. One of these dogs has been a guard at the Kokkalai Animal Hospital for 14 years. Many people were also willing to adopt native dogs, which are quick to adapt and have high immunity. However, the relevant departments failed in their efforts to implement the project.

END and ABC (Animal Birth Control Project) are very effective. The stray dog menace can be brought under control in five years if the government give the green light for the project. For this, biological waste treatment must be made more effective. In 1987, American veterinarian Leo Lieberman successfully tested the END project.