COIMBATORE: Animal welfare activists have raised concerns about the maintenance and operation of the animal birth control (ABC) centre run by the Pollachi municipality.The concerns come in the wake of a video being circulated on social media, purportedly showing unhygienic cages and inadequate post-operative care for dogs that had undergone sterilisation procedures. The footage has raised serious questions about the facility’s monitoring and management.Recently, a stray dog that was kept along with other stray animals in the centre died of canine distemper. Activists have demanded a thorough inquiry into the incident and called for improved standards of care, hygiene and veterinary supervision at the facility.K P Balakrishnan, an independent animal activist, said a stray dog that had undergone sterilisation recently had severe wounds on its private parts and ears.He said, “Despite repeated complaints about the management, no action has been taken to improve the facility or the maintenance of the stray animals. These animals are left in an uncleaned kennel with urine and faeces. These animals are fed in the same kennel. For each stray dog sterilisation, the central govt has fixed a maximum charge of Rs ₹1,650 per dog, and where is all that money going?”
