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First Post
23-07-2025
- Health
- First Post
Kerala wants to ‘euthanise' sick stray dogs. How grave is India's canine problem?
Kerala has planned to 'euthanise' seriously ill stray dogs as cases of attacks by the animals rise. The stray dog menace is plaguing India, with the Centre recently telling the Lok Sabha that over 37 lakh cases of dog bites were reported last year and suspected casualties from rabies stood at 54. Despite laws, why is the country unable to tackle the issue? read more Kerala has decided to 'euthanise' diseased stray dogs amid rising cases of attacks on humans by the animals. The move has sparked a never-ending debate about the 'right ways' to address the dog menace in the country. The problem of dog bites and rabies-related deaths has also reached Parliament. While there are laws to curb the stray dog population, India is struggling to tackle the menace. Let's take a closer look. Kerala to 'euthanise' sick strays The Kerala government is planning to launch mobile sterilisation units in 152 blocks and allow the 'euthanasia' of seriously ill animals, Local Self-Government Minister M B Rajesh said last week. The Kerala government has invoked Section 8 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Animal Husbandry Practices and Procedures) Rules, 2023, to justify its move. The provision empowers the Centre or state government to euthanise any sick animal that is mortally wounded or in a physical condition that 'it shall be cruel to keep it alive.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Only a registered veterinary practitioner can determine the dog's condition and consent has to be taken from the owner or custodian of the animal in writing. This comes as stray dogs, both vaccinated and unvaccinated, bit 1.65 lakh people in the first five months of 2025. As many as 17 casualties have been reported due to dog attacks in Kerala. Kerala has 2.89 lakh stray dogs and 8.36 lakh domesticated canines, Indian Express reported, citing the 2019 livestock census. India's stray dog population India has a stray dog population of about 6.2 crore, according to the State of Pet Homelessness Index of India, 2023. At around 20 lakh, Uttar Pradesh had the largest population of stray dogs. India witnessed 1.6 crore cases of dog bites between 2019 and 2022. As many as 30 lakh cases were reported in 2023 and 21.95 lakh in 2024. The South Asian country reports an alarmingly high number of deaths due to stray dog bites. More than 55,000 people succumb to dog attacks globally every year. India accounts for 36 per cent of global rabies deaths and 65 per cent of the fatalities in South Asia, as per the World Health Organisation (WHO) data. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal this year found that three in every four animal bites were dog bites in India, with the country estimated to record over 5,700 human deaths each year due to rabies. Recently, Union Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying SP Singh Baghel informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that India saw a total of 37,17,336 dog bite cases in 2024, while 54 people were suspected to have died from rabies. On Tuesday (July 22), Congress MP Karti Chidambaram raised concerns about the stray dog menace, writing in a post on X: 'We can't ignore this any more!' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Why India is struggling to tackle stray dog menace Dogs are man's best friends. However, the unchecked growth in stray dog population has become a problem in India. Media reports are full of headlines of dogs attacking humans, especially children. Such incidents spread panic among parents who worry for their children's safety. Some are forced to stop using public spaces amid fears of dog bites. In 2001, India introduced Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules to lay down guidelines to control the street dog population through humane measures such as sterilisation and vaccination. It mandated corporations to sterilise, not kill, street dogs. The rules were upgraded in 2023, including banning relocation of street dogs. A stray caught for sterilisation from a particular place has to be released at the same location after the sterilisation surgery. However, the programme has not been implemented effectively. Due to a crunch of funds or infrastructure, some cities have not rolled out the ABC rules. In other cases, there is a lack of municipal bodies and animal welfare organisations. Stray dogs sit on a deserted street, in New Delhi, India, September 9, 2023. File Photo/Reuters The stray dog question also ignites the war between animal lovers and gated societies and resident welfare associations (RWAs). STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Animal lovers feed the stray dogs, while RWAs want them to be removed from the area. 'In every city, there is a very small minority that says, remove the dogs. There's an equally small pro-animal lobby. And then we have the silent majority of 85 per cent, who just keep quiet,' Chinny Krishna, founder of Blue Cross of India, told The Hindu in 2023. Some cases of botched surgeries, including those without anaesthesia, have made feeders wary. There is also little post-operative care for the strays despite guidelines. However, ferocious stray dogs are making it harder for people to go about their day without being concerned about attacks. 'I used to support feeding strays. But after my niece got chased on her cycle, I just want them gone,' Rita, a college student from Kerala's Thrissur, was quoted as saying by Mathrubhumi. Animal lovers argue that dogs get aggressive due to abuse, hunger, or territorial fear. 'I have had dogs all my life, and especially stray dogs have been my friends ever since I was a kid. I'm very sure that stray dogs never bite out of the blue. They bite only out of fear, hunger, pain, or if there's a history of abuse they've had to go through. These animals survive in very harsh conditions and constantly have to manage on the streets without proper shelter, food, water, or kindness from people. Many people mistreat these animals, and that's what makes them defensive. They'll do anything to protect themselves and their territory, so whenever they feel threatened, they attack or growl,' Ann George, a content writer from Ernakulam, told the Malayalam newspaper. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD ALSO READ: A Paw-fect Farewell to Ratan Tata: How the stray dogs of Mumbai have lost their best friend What's the solution? The human-animal conflict can be managed. Experts say the effective implementation of ABC rules can check the surge in stray dog population. Public awareness about rabies, proper surgeries and care of dogs and putting an end to animal abuse could help in dealing with the problem. India can also look at the Netherlands, which managed the stray dog issue without killing the animals. Its 'Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return policy, which began in the 1990s, has prevented the growth of feral dog populations. Today, the European country is free of stray dogs. India aims to eliminate rabies by 2030. But only sustained efforts, effective implementation of ABC rules and proper waste management to reduce food sources for dogs can help meet the goal. With inputs from agencies
NDTV
16-07-2025
- NDTV
How Can India Resolve Its Stray Dog Crisis? Lessons From Netherlands
New Delhi: A video of a street dog blocking the path of a Lamborghini Huracan supercar on a Mumbai street is going viral on social media, amusing many people who have dubbed the canine "Dogesh" and calling him the "real boss of the roads." But, underneath the amusement lies a real issue of street dogs versus humans conflict that plagues Indian streets and makes them unsafe for pedestrians, especially children and the elderly. India has approximately 6.2 crore stray dogs, according to the State of Pet Homelessness Index of India, 2023. Between 2019 and 2022, a staggering 1.6 crore dog bite cases were reported in the country. The number remained alarmingly high in 2023 (30 lakh cases) and 2024 (21.95 lakh cases) as well, prompting anger and concern among citizens. India also accounts for 36 per cent of global rabies deaths, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, with the country witnessing 18,000-20,000 such cases annually. The increasingly escalating street dog menace has given an ironic turn to the old journalism maxim, "If a dog bites a man, it is not news; but if a man bites a dog, it is", with cases of canines muling both children and adults dominating the headlines. Rules Around Animal Protection India's legal framework for animal protection is governed by the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules. ABC guidelines make a distinction between community dogs -- those living on the street or within a gated campus -- and pet dogs, making it harder for authorities to assign responsibility. For instance, in the case of pet dogs, they are treated as private property, so issues related to their vaccination and regulating their breeding become the responsibility of the pet parent. But, in the case of street dogs, the implementation of ABC's programmes--meant to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs-- has become harder due to a lack of funds, personnel, and facilities at most municipalities. This makes it harder to control their population and reduce rabies risk. Feeding of stray dogs is also not regulated in India, giving way to the formation of territorial dog packs, especially near residential colonies. The lack of designated feeding areas often leads to conflict between residents and animal lovers, with the former wanting to chase them away while the latter wants to protect them. What Can India Do To Reduce Dog Menace To tackle the problem of strays, India can take lessons from the Netherlands, which has reportedly been completely free of stray dogs and rabies for years-- that too without killing a single canine. The work started in the 1990s, when the European country introduced the 'Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return' policy, along with other measures to promote animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. As part of the policy, dogs were collected by authorities, fixed, vaccinated, and even given a veterinary exam (and treatment, if necessary). The programme was government-funded and ensured that feral dog populations stopped growing. It also prevented the unnecessary killing of thousands of animals and the spread of diseases, which could harm both stray and pet dogs. The other key measure by the government was imposing heavy taxes on purchases of pets from pet stores. This encouraged residents to adopt pets from the shelter instead, and it led to millions of formerly stray dogs being rescued. The country also introduced stricter laws against animal cruelty, including the abandonment of pets, which could lead to hefty fines or imprisonment up to three years. By implementing clearer rules and accountability, India can also promote the adoption of all dog breeds, while also alleviating harassment of both the canines and their lovers. It can also help in bringing down the population of street dogs.
