Stray dogs and rats make life of Rawalpindi residents miserable

Rawalpindi
The presence of a large number of stray dogs and in addition to rats in different localities of the city and cantonment speaks volumes about the inefficiency of the concerned authorities. And the problems of residents of different localities, particularly those living along Nullah Leh, aggravate whenever the rain comes.
In the past, during monsoon season, civic departments had one or two firing squads to kill stray dogs. The squad used to visit every locality of the city according to a schedule and shoot all stray dogs. Afterwards, sanitary workers lifted the dead dogs and bury them outside the city.
But with the passage of time, this practice has come to a halt due to financial problems and lack of staff in the civic bodies.
It would be appropriate to mention here that the municipal administrations of Rawal and Potohar towns earmark ample amount of funds every year to eradicate stray dogs and rats. As the number of these animals is on the rise, so one could guess easily that funds are not utilised for the purpose properly.
The stray dogs and rats get their food from garbage dumps and these overflowing dumps are a main source of their growth. The garbage heaps spread around the city are the main source where these animals survive. The stray dogs, rodents and cats have become very healthy by getting plenty of food from these trash piles.
Talking to ‘The News,’ residents of low-lying areas appealed to the civic authorities to address the issue immediately.