A few months back the Sterilization centre of Usmanpur was in news for its irresponsible and apathetic behaviour towards dogs.
The Usmanpur Sterilization centre was started about a year ago in East Delhi and became quite infamous and notorious when many dogs who were taken for Sterilization came back with open stitches. Few died and many had to be given medical aid which helped them to survive.
This created a lot of anger and dissatisfaction among the caregivers. And many made complaints to the authorities. Animal welfare NGOs like PFA and Indie Dog Commune made complaints against the negligent behaviour of the centre.
Criticism should never be detested, rather a sensible organization is one which ponders and listens to the criticisms and works on it.
The Usmanpur centre has taken all the criticisms in the right spirit and has changed its working style. They are now more empathetic towards dogs and see to it that no dog dies or falls sick due to their negligence. All dogs are given food and water with regular antibiotics and post operative care. And only once their stitches are properly healed and they are physically fit only then they are dropped back.
Recently they picked up 7 dogs from the east Delhi area for Sterilization. They were picked up in front of the caregivers Shanti (M-8799745615) and Urvashi (M-8750719644) who also helped the centre boy Amit in identifying the unsterilized dogs and getting them picked.
Identifying the unsterilised dogs and catching them is not easy. The dogs generally run away once they see the men with catchers in their hands. Here where the caregivers prove very helpful. They know exactly who are the unsterilised dogs and also help them in getting the dogs picked.
Shanti's and Urvashi's dogs were dropped back by the Usmanpur centre yesterday morning ( 28th February 2020). All the dogs seemed well but today morning Shanti found one of her female dog's stitches open. As an open stitch is dangerous and might cause infection so she called Amit and asked him to take the dog back. Amit immediately has taken the dog back to the centre and has given full assuarance that the dog will be dropped back only when her stitches are fully healed.
The same centre which treated dogs like chairs and tables now treat them with care and love. They know now that they are dealing with precious life. A life who has someone waiting for it back home.
A life which is not a stray but a community animal. Who has its caregivers to look after them and to protect hem once they are released back into their territory.
The municipal corporation of Delhi should open more Sterilization centres as the centres in Delhi are quite few and overcrowded. It is neither good for the staff of the centre nor good for the health of the dogs. Also direct collaboration between the centres and the RWA / caregivers is a must to make the ABC programme successful.