NGO Suspends Dog Catching Services in Ujjain Due to Non-Payment by Municipality

The Charitable Welfare Society for Human Kindness and Animals, the only NGO in Ujjain dedicated to catching, vaccinating, and sterilizing stray dogs, has ceased operations due to the municipality’s failure to pay outstanding bills. The NGO, operating for a year, has not received payments since February, amounting to approximately 17 lakh rupees. Consequently, the NGO has stopped its vehicle operations for catching dogs, leading to concerns about escalating dog bite cases in the city. The NGO brings captured dogs to a dog house in Sadawal for vaccination and sterilization before returning them to their original areas within three days. This process is crucial for controlling the dog population and preventing rabies. The NGO previously suspended operations for a week due to non-payment, witnessing a surge in dog bite incidents. The NGO’s president, Neelam Kaur, expressed frustration over the delayed payments, stating that the lack of funds hinders their ability to manage staff, fuel costs, dog food, and medication. The municipality’s commissioner, Ashish Pathak, however, claimed that the NGO has been receiving payments and denied knowledge of any outstanding bills.