To kill or not to kill? By Risidra Mendis A dog is man's best friend or so the saying goes. But sadly in today's world dogs are treated as a nuisance, a liability or even a menace to humans. In Sri Lanka, a predominantly Buddhist country, puppies and dogs are dumped on the road by humans irrespective of the consequences. These innocent dogs and puppies finally end up at the dog pound and are put to death if no one claims them within a given period of time.

But while dogs are rounded up by the Municipal Councils (MC), animal rights activists and organisations continue their fight to save these animals from an untimely death at the dog pound.

Speaking to The Sunday Leader, Veterinary Surgeon and Officer in Charge, Anti Rabies Campaign, Dr. M Ijas said his officials were not happy about killing the dogs at the pound. "We have no choice but to kill the dogs as there isn't sufficient space at the pound to keep all the dogs we round up," explained Dr Ijas.

According to Dr. Ijas animal rights activists are the first to criticise MC authorities when they round up stray dogs. "These so called animal rights activists have no facilities or space to keep these stray dogs but expect us to find a solution" says Dr. Ijas.

Meanwhile' a Member of the Society for Protection of Animal Rights (SPAR) said the MC authorities could vaccinate these stray dogs and release them back to the roads.

However, Dr. Ijas rejected this idea on the basis that according to the Municipal Council Ordinance a public road belongs to the people. "If we get a complaint from the public of a stray dog problem we have no choice but to round up the dogs. Animal rights activists can say that the dogs are harmless and have been vaccinated, but what proof do we have? Some people are naturally terrified of dogs and don't want them on the roads" Dr. Ijas said.

Dr. Ijas went on to say that the majority of people want stray dogs rounded up. "If you come to the dog pound I can show you how many complaints we have got as to why we are not killing stray dogs. It is only a few animal lovers who want the dogs on the streets" he said. 

While the issue of to kill or not to kill continues a SPAR member claims to have heard stories that pet dogs with collars are caught by the MC. "Some owners claim they are not allowed to take their dogs out of the pound as they have to be checked for signs of rabies first. The dog pound has no facility of keeping suspected pet dogs away from the strays" she said.

Commenting on the issue of pet dogs and stray dogs Dr. Ijas said they have no facilities at the dog pound to keep these animals apart. "However, if the owner has documentary proof that the dog has been given the rabies vaccine we can release the animal immediately" explained Dr. Ijas.

According to Dr. Ijas, Colombo Mayor Prasanna Gunewardena is totally against the killing of stray dogs. "This is why for the past four months we have adopted a new method of killing the strays in a humane way. Our officials first inject the dog with an anaesthetic. Once the dog falls asleep it is either injected with stritchnine poisoning or put in the gas chamber'" he said.

As for the total cost involved in this new method of killing Dr. Ijas said he couldn't comment. " We are yet to purchase the anaesthetic. The anaesthetic we are presently using has been donated to us buy an organisation" Dr. Ijas said.

Dr. Ijas told The Sunday Leader that at any given time he was willing to release all stray dogs that had no symptoms of rabies to any animal rights activists who could keep them in a shelter.