Hyderabad: Dog Death Puts MMC ABC Centre Under Scanner

Hyderabad: A dog’s death following sterilisation at the Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation’s (MMC) animal birth control (ABC) centre at Fathullaguda has prompted an animal welfare group to seek a probe, even as the civic body on Thursday ordered tighter monitoring of post-operative care and release procedures.

The association for animal shelter and rescue aid (AASRA) alleged that a stray dog picked up from Dammaiguda for sterilisation at the centre died after it was released following five days of post-operative care.

The organisation raised concerns over post-operative monitoring, medical records and the manner in which dogs are released.

“Our concern is not merely about one dog.

We want the corporation to verify whether proper post-operative care is being provided and whether dogs are being released at the same locations from where they are picked up,” an AASRA representative told Deccan Chronicle.

AASRA also sought animal-wise records containing details of capture locations, surgeries, post-operative care, complications, deaths and release locations.

It has sought the medical and release records of the dog that died to establish the circumstances leading to its death.

Following the allegations, MMC commissioner T. Vinay Krishna Reddy inspected the Fathullaguda ABC centre on Thursday and reviewed ABC and anti-rabies vaccination (ARV) operations with veterinary officials, field staff and representatives of animal welfare organisations.

“We have directed the veterinary team to strictly verify the condition of every dog after sterilisation before releasing it.

If the wound has not healed, the dog should continue to receive post-operative care,” the commissioner told Deccan Chronicle.

According to the protocol followed by the civic body, sterilised dogs receiving ARV are to be given post-operative care for four to five days in the case of males and five to six days for females.

If surgical wounds have not healed, dogs are to be kept under care until recovery.

The commissioner also directed officials to ensure that dogs are released in the same locality from where they were captured.

Animal welfare organisations and volunteers are to be involved in the release process, with a local representative signing the relevant records.

“Proper case sheets and post-operative care records have to be maintained for every dog.

We are strengthening the verification process and involving animal welfare organisations and local volunteers during the release of dogs,” he said.

The commissioner inspected the kennels, operation theatre, food preparation area and new animal shelter under construction.

He directed officials to maintain sanitation of kennels and dog-catching vehicles and keep cleaning records.

He also ordered steps to establish a diagnostic laboratory for blood tests, ultrasound and other pre-surgical investigations, and directed officials to follow ARV SOPs and maintain the vaccine cold chain.

The MMC is planning animal shelters with a proposed combined capacity of 3,000 animals, subject to feasibility, land availability and budgetary resources.