ABDUL WAHAB KHAN | NT
PANAJI: The state has been unable to confront the might of canine ferocity. The efforts of the government to subdue man’s best friend, which often turns menacing and ferocious, have miserably failed. As unruly stray dogs prowl in the streets especially in the night, the authorities have been found lax in dealing with the serious social problem.
On an average, every year around 20,000 Goans fall victim to the canine ferocity. This signifies that the animal husbandry department, the civic authorities, and animal welfare groups have failed to bring down canine population.
Moreover, there are no records available to ascertain whether canine population is on decline as some measures had been undertaken on animal birth control.
While the government spends hefty amount of money on sterilisation programmes, the number of dog bites has remained constant over the past few years.
At least 20400 dog bites were reported last year in the state, while the number was 21600 in 2014.
However, the rabies cases have come down from 17 in 2014 to nil in the last six months.
Rabies Mission officials have said that there have been around 50,000 dogs in the state, and the number has gone up by 10,000 in the past one year. A total of 1.07 lakh sterilisations and vaccinations were conducted by the Mission Rabies from 2013 to June, this year.
Despite the sterilisation programmes, the number of people reporting dog bites has not decreased; nearly 1600 dog bite cases are reported every month at government hospitals indicating that the civic authorities have failed to tackle the stray dog menace.
The officials have stressed on the need for a push on awareness, sterilization and vaccination programmes so as to control the canine birth.
Taking cognizance of media reports on dog bites in Panaji and surrounding areas affecting children in particular, recently the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights directed the Corporation of the City of Panaji, the directorate of animal husbandry and veterinary services, the directorate of health services and the urban health centre to initiate necessary steps to curb the menace.
As complaints against stray dog menace pour in from across the state, the authorities have been found doing little to check the problem.
Civic bodies do not have their own facilities for dog sterilisation, so they outsource the procedures to NGOs working in the field. One such organisation – Panaji Animal Welfare Society – has 100 cages and provides animal birth control services and anti-rabies vaccinations.
The CCP has signed a memorandum of understanding with the society as well as 19 panchayats to undertake animal birth control programme and anti-rabies vaccination. Around 25-30 dogs are brought in for sterilisation after being caught by the corporation’s dog squad.
The government has also introduced a ‘short scheme for mission rabies’ for mass sterilisation and vaccination of dogs with an aim to eradicate rabies from the state by 2018 on 50:50 sharing basis. However, the second instalment of Rs 27.83 lakh has not yet been paid by the government towards the scheme.
“Mass vaccination campaigns against rabies targeting entire dog population as well as carrying out sterilisation programmes by neutering stray female dogs is the only solution,” said Dr Murugan Appupillai, Indian education director, Mission Rabies.