Those visiting Medical College and Museum be careful; stray dogs roaming in packs can attack

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There is only one thing to say to those who come to the Medical College Hospital and those who come to spend their mornings and evenings at the museum and Kanakakunnu. Be careful not to get bitten by stray dogs. The dogs roaming around in large numbers are a huge cause for concern. Dogs roam around the OP department, pharmacy, mortuary, and the premises of the SAT and RCC in the Medical College Hospital. Often, complaints are filed about dogs trying to attack patients and others who come to the hospital, but no action is taken. They mostly come out on the roads at night. They attack pedestrians and people coming on two-wheelers. There have been complaints that their attacks are frequent in the museum and the premises of the Kanakakunnu Palace. Most of the attacks are against women and children. It is alleged that the authorities and corporation employees do not take any action even after complaints are filed against this. Dogs that roam around the park and zoo during the day come out on the road at night and cause problems. The problem of stray dogs is also acute in the General Hospital area, Pettah, Kunnukuzhy, and Barton Hill Engineering College areas.

Lack of sterilization

In Thiruvananthapuram city, sterilization is available only in Pettah. Therefore, only a very few dogs are caught and brought. The sterilisation centre at Vandithadam has been closed for months for modernisation. Although mobile vehicles and catchers used to catch dogs from many places under the leadership of the corporation earlier, it is very less now. Therefore, the number of stray dogs is increasing day by day, says the locals.

Abundant meat waste

The corporation officials say that the dogs are living in groups because some people are feeding them meat waste from chicken centres. The meat waste is brought to places without CCTV and lights, and is given to the dogs. In other areas, the meat waste is thrown under vehicles parked on the roadside, blinding others. Such spots have been created in the vicinity of the SAP camp and on the road to Kanaka Nagar. The dogs tend to gather in groups in these areas. The employees say that the interventions made by animal lovers to protect them are also becoming a problem.