VMC Market superintendent Dr M Jayswal, who also looks after the sterilisation programme, said, “In 2007, we had invited an Expression of Interest (EOI) from NGOs, and from August the same year, the Vadodara Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (VSPCA) was given the job of sterilising female dogs in the city.”

He said that in the last six months till February 12, VSPCA has carried out 2,093 sterilisations over female dogs at an operation shed in Chapad. After the sterilisation, VSPCA makes a half ear clipping as identification, and releases the dogs at the same spot from where they were picked up.

He denied that sterilisation is ineffective. “It is being done under our staff’s strict supervision using ovary-hysterectomy technique. Earlier, two NGOs had come to the fore but demanded separate shelters which was not feasible for the VMC. Thus, VSPCA was given the job. VMC pays Rs 425 for sterilisation per dog.

It should be noted that sterilisation is being carried out under the Centre’s Animal Birth Control Scheme (ABC Scheme).

VSPCA president Ashok Krishnadas said, “It is a matter of perception if anyone claims that we are not doing the sterilisation programme correctly. We treat around 10,000 dogs every year and our staff is following all norms. The VMC pays us the actual cost incurred on sterilisation.”

Every patient who takes anti rabies vaccination following a dog bite has to undergo five rounds of injection in a month’s period, which has to be taken after a gap of three, seven, fourteen and 28 days from the day of the bite.