Kudumbashree trains women to catch stray dogs in Kerala

From a civic issue, stray dog menace has become a very sensitive topic in Kerala after the animals mauled two persons to death recently. Scary stories of brutal stray attacks  are doing rounds, and in most cases, the elderly and the children are the victims. 

Though the government has decided to implement animal birth control (ABC) to tackle the issue, lack of volunteers is posing a threat. There are only 100 trained dog catchers in the state. 
 

Also read: Kerala erupts in protests, slay dogs after killing
 

It is at this stage that Kudumbashree, a network of women self help group, came forward to make up the shortage of trained dog catchers. It gave training to 20 women of Kunnukara panchayat in Ernakulam to catch dogs. They were also given para-veterinary and basic first aid training so that they could help veterinary doctors in sterilisation surgeries of strays. 

Local Self Government Department finds it a very promising employment opportunity for women as the civic bodies are in dire need of trained dog catchers in Kerala. 
 

Unlike the professional dog catchers who use plastic noose, women are trained by Kudumabashree to catch the strays using cage traps. They would attract strays by leaving food in the cage and shuts it when the dog gets in. The canine would be fed by the catcher while taking it to the nearby veterinary hospital. The dogs are tranquilised before moving it to the shelter at the hospital. On completing sterilisation process, the dog will be released at the place from where it was caught. 

Those who got training under the Kudumbashree say that it is an easy job . ABC programme manager Sally Kannan says that the dogs trust women and hence they are more amiable to women dog catchers. 
 

• Kudumbashree
• street dog menace Kerala
• dog catchers