Dogged by danger
A tide of dog attack incidents in Visakhapatnam in recent months has caused fear and alarm among residents. Notwithstanding sterilisation efforts by the municipal corporation, questions are being raised about the efficacy of its Animal Birth Control progr
tide of dog attack incidents in Visakhapatnam in recent months has caused fear and alarm among residents. Notwithstanding sterilisation efforts by the municipal corporation, questions are being raised about the efficacy of its Animal Birth Control programme. B. Madhu Gopal explores the delicate balance between public safety and welfare of the city’s stray dog population
On March 4, four children playing on the street were attacked by a stray dog in the Vadlapudi area of Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. They were treated at the local primary health centre.
Last September, a threeyearold boy was attacked by a pack of stray dogs at a construction site in VUDA Nagar, near Duvvada in the city. His parents, working nearby, swooped in to rescue him, averting grave danger to his life. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was administered an immunoglobulin injection followed by antirabies vaccination.
These incidents have reignited concern and anger among people, leading many to ponder upon how man’s best friend is fast turning into his worst enemy. Traditionally cherished as loyal companions, dogs are increasingly being viewed with fear and suspicion as cases of dog bites and attacks emerge with alarming frequency nationwide.
The gravity of the situation is evident in the rising cases of rabies. In 2023, eight people, admitted to the Government Hospital for Chest and Communicable Diseases (GHCCD) in Visakhapatnam, succumbed to dog attacks. Now, in the first quarter of this year, the toll has already reached five, painting a grim picture of an escalating public health crisis.
Sometimes, the presence of stray dogs offers a comfort to solitary road users on deserted streets. But for others, it often gets daunting, especially after dark. Residents of many colonies have expressed concern over the unchecked population of stray dogs, citing instances of canines chasing twowheeler users at street corners, leading to accidents, and even unprovoked attacks on children and the elderly.
Subba Raju, an employee of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, recalls how he was bitten by a stray dog recently outside his home at Rajiv
Nagar, Kurmannapalem, a buzzing neigh
bour hood in Vi
Asakhapatnam, while he was starting his motorbike. “There are over a dozen stray dogs in our street and just a few months ago, they had litters of puppies,” says Raju’s wife Sridevi, who runs a chicken shop in the area.
Stray dogs, driven by desperation amidst scarcity, often resort to extreme measures in their search for sustenance. With limited access to food sources, they frequently scavenge through garbage bins, alleys, and outside halls used for social events. The summer season exacerbates their plight, leading them to drink from drains or puddles to quench their thirst. “At times, they attack piglets when their mother is away scavenging for food,” says K. Eswar, a resident of VUDA Nagar, Kurmannapalem.
Tagging and taming
With an estimated 1.20 lakh dogs across the 98 wards of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC), sterilisation efforts have been extensive, asserts GVMC Veterinary Officer N. Kishore, adding that as many as 98,834 dogs have been sterilised over the past three years as part of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme. As per protocol, these dogs, regardless of gender, are tagged on their ear postABC surgery.This system facilitates distinction by dog catchers and even others, he explains.
“We have covered most areas in the city, except a few outlying parts such as Anakapalli, Pendurthi, and Bheemunipatnam. The surgeries are 100% successful and the chance of dogs giving birth after the ABC surgery can almost be ruled out. In the past, the task of sterilisation used to be done by the Visakha Society for Protection and Care of Animals (VSPCA) alone. Now, we at GVMC, have five veterinarians, including two regular and three contractual, who undertake these surgeries,” says Dr. Kishore.
Over the past two months, 100 ABC surgeries have been done on a daily basis in the city. “GVMC Commissioner C.M. Saikanth Varma has directed us to increase the number of sterilisations and perform surgeries on canines in all eight zones of the GVMC. The corporation has enlisted the services of four more vets in this regard. They will be paid for each sterilisation,” he adds.
The GVMC Veterinary Officer says more kennels are required to ensure postoperative care of the sterilised dogs. “They should be kept in an aseptic condition for at least four to five days. Releasing the dogs back into their respective localities soon after the surgery is risky. They may scratch the stitches, making the surgery ineffective,” he points out.
The minimum age for a dog to be sterilised is 18 months. “But the best option is to perform ABC after the first delivery as there would be full growth of the uterus,” says Dr. Kishore.
In March 2016, the Supreme Court directed all States to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs under the supervision of Animal Welfare Board of India to control their population and the spread of rabies. The apex court’s decision came in response to the submission of the amicus curiae — the se
The number of puppies is increasing, of late, and this indicates the failure of ABC surgeries. The surgeries should be done for 70% female dogs and 30% male dogs for the programme to be effective. PRADEEP NATH,
In India, dog bites are the leading cause of rabies cases. People bitten by a dog, cat or monkey must receive the Anti Rabies Vaccine. DR. P. BALA KALYANI,