Stray Dog Attacks Rise Across Keralam, Children and Elderly Most Affected

Thiruvananthapuram: Stray dog attacks are increasing across Keralam, with children and elderly people bearing the brunt of the attacks. Incidents of stray dogs biting domestic animals have also become increasingly common.

Earlier this month, a six-year-old boy was bitten by a stray dog while he was on his way to tuition in Kottayam. Reports had also emerged of an increase in the menace posed by stray dogs and rabid dogs in various wards of the Klappana panchayat in Kollam. Stray dog attacks have even been reported against children sleeping inside their homes.

In several places, the situation has reached a point where pedestrians find it difficult to use public roads safely. Earlier this month, a stray dog that bit three people in Kochi was confirmed to have rabies. The victims were Mohammed Rafi of Katukunnu Kalanad, Kiliyeth Moideen Kunju and fifth-standard student Madathatt Siyyan. The dog was found dead the following day.

Stray dogs also frequently attack and kill domestic animals. In Koodali, Kannur, several chickens were killed by stray dogs, while seven goats were killed in Ottapalam, Palakkad.

Local bodies have been directed to implement vaccination of stray dogs at the panchayat level. The Kerala High Court will seek explanations from local self-government institutions in a suo motu petition concerning the implementation of the Supreme Court’s guidelines on stray dog control.

A Division Bench comprising Justice A K Jayasankaran Nambiar and Justice A K Preetha directed the state government to submit an application by Friday to implead local self-government institutions as parties to the case.