The next time you face stray dog menace in your neighbourhood, just call up or send an SMS to 7766999232 - a new helpline number floated by Humane Society International on Tuesday.
"Anybody in Jamshedpur can call/SMS us on 7766999232 between 8am and 6pm to inform us about dog menace. We will net the dog in a humane and safe manner and carry out vaccination and sterilisation, and then release it in the same area," said Rahul Sehgal, Asia director of Humane Society International.
The global animal protection outfit, along with Animal Help Foundation, Jamsetji Tata Trust and Tata Steel subsidiary Jusco, has been running sterilisation and vaccination programme for stray dogs in the steel city since April 2013. The outfit hopes to control the canine population by 2016.
President and CEO of Humane Society International Andrew Rowan, who was in the city to interact with newsmen on Tuesday, said that four canine population surveys conducted between April 2013 and May 2015 revealed that the percentage of sterilised female dogs had risen from four to 47 while that of lactating female dogs has dropped dramatically from 13 to 0.6. The percentage of puppies is also down from 13.3 to 2.6.
As part of its Jamshedpur community dog population and rabies management project, Humane Society International along with Jusco also plans to start an education-cum-awareness programme on World Rabies Day on September 28 to teach schoolchildren in Jamshedpur how to stay safe from dog bites.
Asia director Sehgal said that they were preparing a comprehensive module for the students.
"Our surveys across the country have revealed that 70 per cent of dog bite victims are children below 16 years of age. Hence, we are targeting schoolchildren. The education-cum-awareness programme will arm students with basic information on how to not get bitten by a stray dog," said Sehgal.
During the programme, children will be reminded of some thumb rules such as dogs bite only when they feel scared or threatened.
"One should keep some fundamentals in mind. For instance, running towards or away from a dog is a strict no-no. Stay calm when a dog approaches you. Don't look directly into its eyes. Never squeeze dogs too tight or drop them or fall on them. Do not tease dogs or pull their tail or ears," reminded Sehgal.
