Sambalpur: Negligence in Burla’s ABC Program; Stray Dogs Released with Unhealed Stitches, Infection Risk Soars
Sambalpur: In January, the local animal care center launched the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program in Burla with the assistance of SMC (Sambalpur Municipal Corporation) to combat the growing stray dog population. Stray dogs from various parts of the city are captured and sterilized at the veterinary facility as part of this program. However, there are growing concerns that this initiative is being delayed, causing distress among the dogs and widespread infection.
Improper Care After Sterilization
Following the sterilization surgery, the dogs should be kept under medical supervision until their stitches heal. Only then should they be freed. Unfortunately, this rule is being ignored in Burla. Many dogs are released before their stitches have completely healed, resulting in severe infections. In some cases, wounds are rotting, and maggots can be seen feeding on open wounds, which has alarmed animal lovers.
Animal Lovers Raise Concerns
Satyabhama Malana, a local animal lover, witnessed one such incident in Telugu Pada when a stray dog was released prematurely following surgery. She noticed the dog’s stitches had opened and went to a private veterinarian at her own expense. Fortunately, the dog narrowly avoided death. Satyabhama has since questioned the ABC program, wondering how many more dogs are being released without proper care, putting them at risk of infection and death.
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Improper Handling of the ABC Program
Satyabhama expressed additional concern, stating that improper surgeries or releasing dogs before their wounds have healed can result in severe infections, ultimately leading to their deaths. She questioned whether the sterilization program was being used to slowly kill these stray dogs.
Response from the ABC Program Officer
Dr. Muktikanta Bhuiyan, who oversees the ABC program in Burla, defended the procedures, claiming that the stitches are properly placed and that the dogs are only released once their wounds have healed. However, he admitted that if the dogs scratch or bite the stitches before they have fully healed, infections can occur. He assured them that if they notice any stitches opening, they should contact them and the dogs would be treated again.
Despite these assurances, the growing concerns about the management of the ABC program remain. Many are asking for better monitoring and care of the dogs, to ensure that the program does not become a death sentence for these stray animals.
