Harshini Brahmavar
Pics: Umesh Marpalli
Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (HB)
Udupi, Jan 31: If you spot a strip of light passing by you in the dark, don't panic. It could be the 'reflective belt' on a stray dog. Owing to the alarming increase in the number of road accidents after sunset involving stray animals, especially dogs, social worker Nithyananda Olakadu has started the unique initiative of tagging them with reflective collar belts.
Nithyananda took the initiative in the city with the intention of saving stray dogs from being mowed down by vehicle on roads and also to prevent road mishaps at night. He was also fed up with the negligence of the city municipality over stray dogs. Nithyananda has tagged as many as 28 dogs with what he calls 'magic collars', made of a reflective cloth attached to a nylon tape. These collars do not harm the animal and people can easily identify them.
Each of these reflective belts costs Rs 60. Manohar Shetty, the owner of Radha Medicals, one of the leading pharmaceutical outlets in the city has come forward to bear the entire expense of the 'magic collars'.
The issue of stray dogs used to come up in every meeting of the municipality, but the outcome of the discussions was nil. The stray dogs, wandering in search of food would reach accident-prone zones like MGM College, fish market at Beedinagudde, garbage area and car street in the city.
Nithyananda scrutinised dogs in places Car Street, around Sri Krishna Math, Mission Compound, Ajjarkad Park, fish market near PPC College and others.
"It is quite risky as not all stray dogs are calm. I had to pamper them repeatedly with biscuits or any other food. I am happy that the public supported me wherever I went," says Nithyananda.
The good Samaritan doesnt stop at this. Nithyananda wants to further consult veterinarians to sterilise the stray dogs. But first, he wants to complete tagging the dogs with the reflective belts at the earliest. Nithyananda works independently and is confident of finishing the task.
The municipality has turned a blind eye to the problem of stary dogs. Workers were brought from other states to kill the stray dogs a few years ago. A court order derailed the move, after which the number of stray dogs kept increasing.
Nityananda, who was a councilor nine years ago, had caught as many as 300 stray dogs then.
Vinayachandra from Sasthan who is considered close to Nityananda is helping him in this cause.