Dogged by danger
A tide of dog attacks in Visakhapatnam has caused alarm among residents of the city in Andhra Pradesh, with the efficacy of sterilisation efforts being questioned. B. Madhu Gopal explores the balance between public safety and welfare of the strays
n 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
Oconcern 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 neighbourhood in Visakhapatnam, 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 senior lawyer assisting the court — that dogs were not being sterilised by authorities, either because of lack of funds or apathy.
“There is no shortage of funds, and the shortage of veterinary doctors and inadequate number of kennels to provide postoperative care to the dogs is being addressed by hiring veterinary doctors on temporary basis. The municipal corporation, at present, has 90 kennels and has recently placed orders for 30 more,” says an official of GVMC.
In 2001, the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules were introduced, mandating the sterilisation and immunisation of stray dogs in collaboration with animal welfare organisations, private individuals, and local authorities. While the rules did not explicitly address euthanising stray dogs, exceptions were made for those deemed “incurably ill” or “mortally wounded”.
“Around 2% of the dogs, suffering with incurable diseases, are being euthanised in consultation with animal rights organisations in Visakhapatnam,” the GVMC Veterinary Officer says.
“The GVMC should appoint a committee to tackle the issue with the support of voluntary organisations, civic officials, police, lawyers, and city residents. The committee should come out with a comprehensive plan for sterilisation of the canines and feeding and quenching the thirst of stray dogs, ensuring that every dog is covered,” says N. Nageswara Rao, a dog lover, residing at Kailasapuram in the city.
Rabies prevention
“Rabies, a deadly viral disease, is transmitted through the bite of infected animals such as dogs, cats, monkeys, and bats. It is less likely to be caused by rats and mice as they are unlikely to survive after being attacked by a rabid dog. In India, dog bites are the leading cause of rabies cases, while bats pose the greatest risk in the Western world. Immediate medical attention is crucial for people bitten by a dog, cat or monkey, and they must receive the Anti Rabies Vaccine (ARV),” says Dr. P. Bala Kalyani, incharge Civil Assistant Surgeon at GHCCD.
There is no treatment for rabies once symptoms develop in the human body. A dog usually dies within 10 to 14 days of becoming sick. It is imperative to keep both the infected dog and the victim under observation, with the victim isolated to prevent transmission of the virus, says Dr. Kalyani.
“The incubation period of the virus ranges from one to three months, but in some cases, it may range from several days to years after exposure. An infected person who fails to take the ARV/ Rabies Immunoglobulins (RIG) or the full course of injections may develop rabies,” she adds.
In the past decade, the following numbers of rabies deaths were reported at the GHCCD: 22 in 201314; five in 201415; 15 in 201516; 21 in 201617; 16 in 201718; five in 201819; 18 in 202122; and eight in 202223. Rabies cases were not admitted to the hospital between 2019 and 2021 as the GHCCD had been converted into a COVID19 facility.