Bengaluru has recorded a staggering 13,748 dog-bite cases over the past six months, from April to September, emphasizing the urgent need for effective measures announced by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP). This call for action follows the tragic death of a 76-year-old woman who was attacked by a pack of dogs during her morning walk.
According to data from the Animal Husbandry Department, May was the peak month for dog-bite incidents, with 3,047 reported cases, while August recorded the lowest number at 1,934. City officials acknowledged that Bengaluru typically sees an annual average of 30,000 to 35,000 dog-bite cases.
The alarming trend is underscored by the fatal attack on the elderly woman on August 28. During her morning stroll in North Bengaluru, she was attacked by nearly a dozen stray dogs, sustaining multiple bites over her body. More recently, on September 28, a young girl was bitten by a dog while walking in a defense colony in Jalahalli. Fortunately, she was rescued by a nearby resident after being pulled by a pack of dogs. The girl received medical treatment and has since recovered.
A senior BBMP official highlighted the issue of dog aggression, attributing it to a lack of food availability. “Many stray dogs become aggressive when they are starving, leading to attacks on people, particularly in the early morning or at night,” the official stated. In response, the BBMP has encouraged residents to participate in creating designated feeding areas for stray dogs, a strategy that is already being implemented. The BBMP hopes that these initiatives will lead to a decline in dog-bite incidents in the coming months.
In addition to these efforts, the BBMP is executing its Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, which includes sterilizing and vaccinating stray dogs against rabies and other diseases. To enhance tracking of this program, the BBMP is now inserting microchips into the dogs, enabling the collection of data related to vaccination, sterilization, and their locations.
Animal rights activist Arun Prasad has expressed concerns regarding the BBMP’s reporting practices, noting that there is currently no system to distinguish between pet and stray dog bites, potentially inflating the reported numbers. “Feeding stray dogs is crucial to reducing aggression stemming from food competition. The BBMP needs to establish designated feeding zones to ensure that all dogs within a territory can eat peacefully without fighting,” he urged.
As Bengaluru grapples with these challenges, the focus remains on improving public safety and addressing the needs of the city’s stray dog population.
Related Topics:
Recognizing Signs of Fear or Anxiety in Dogs
Ruffwear Winter Gear: Prepare Your Trail Dog for Adventure
Australian Woman Loses Arm in Dog Attack at Home
