Dog Do Right
Related Articles
Express Message Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is among the top 6 states with the highest number of reported cases of dog bites in the country. In the first seven months of this year, nearly 1,000 people in Kerala suffered dog bites, nearly doubling the number last year. Union Minister for Fisheries, Livestock and Dairy Industry Parshottam Rupala released the figures while answering a question from CPM’s AM Ariff in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
Dog bites, which account for a majority of animal bite cases, have created a huge demand for rabies vaccines in the state. The health department reports that cases of dog bites have increased by two to three times. Deaths from rabies have also increased proportionately, although deaths are 100% preventable with an effective vaccine. There have been 14 deaths so far this year compared to 11 last year. The situation required the government to act immediately to reduce the stray dog population and vaccinate the domestic dogs.
Health experts, animal welfare organizations and the public have complained about the poor performance of local authorities in controlling the number of stray dogs. The situation worsened after the Animal Welfare Board of India prevented Kudumbashree units from running the ABC program for failing to meet minimum standards for conducting sterilization and immunization of stray dogs. Health Minister Veena George issued a statement that a high-level meeting was being held to address the issue and an action plan was being drawn up with the support of the local self-government department.
“Dog bites are a serious problem that needs urgent attention. A one-time vaccination of dogs does not confer lifelong immunity. The solution lies in limiting the number of stray dogs and rehabilitating them. Pet registration and vaccination should become mandatory,” said Dr. Althaf A, Epidemiologist and Associate Professor at Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. He said poor food waste management is one of the main reasons for the increase in the number of strays.
The number of stray dogs and pets has increased during lockdown, said Dr. S. Nandakumar, Disease Investigator and Pathologist at the State Institute for Animal Diseases, Palode. Local authorities should fully support the expansion of the ABC program, he said. The Street Dog Watch Association, a Kovalam-based organization approved by the Animal Welfare Board of India to conduct ABC, has had a different experience. The organization conducts an annual survey of the number of strays in the area and has found that numbers are declining.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is among the top 6 states with the highest number of reported cases of dog bites in the country. In the first seven months of this year, nearly 1,000 people in Kerala suffered dog bites, nearly doubling the number last year. Union Minister for Fisheries, Livestock and Dairy Industry Parshottam Rupala released the figures while answering a question from CPM’s AM Ariff in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Dog bites, which account for a majority of animal bite cases, have created a huge demand for rabies vaccines in the state. The health department reports that cases of dog bites have increased by two to three times. Deaths from rabies have also increased proportionately, although deaths are 100% preventable with an effective vaccine. There have been 14 deaths so far this year compared to 11 last year. The situation required the government to act immediately to reduce the stray dog population and vaccinate the domestic dogs. Health experts, animal welfare organizations and the public have complained about the poor performance of local authorities in controlling the number of stray dogs. The situation worsened after the Animal Welfare Board of India prevented Kudumbashree units from running the ABC program for failing to meet minimum standards for conducting sterilization and immunization of stray dogs. Health Minister Veena George issued a statement that a high-level meeting was being held to address the issue and an action plan was being drawn up with the support of the local self-government department. “Dog bites are a serious problem that needs urgent attention. A one-time vaccination of dogs does not confer lifelong immunity. The solution lies in limiting the number of stray dogs and rehabilitating them. Pet registration and vaccination should become mandatory,” said Dr. Althaf A, Epidemiologist and Associate Professor at Government Medical College Hospital, Thiruvananthapuram. He said poor food waste management is one of the main reasons for the increase in the number of strays. The number of stray dogs and pets has increased during lockdown, said Dr. S. Nandakumar, Disease Investigator and Pathologist at the State Institute for Animal Diseases, Palode. Local authorities should fully support the expansion of the ABC program, he said. The Street Dog Watch Association, a Kovalam-based organization approved by the Animal Welfare Board of India to conduct ABC, has had a different experience. The organization conducts an annual survey of the number of strays in the area and has found that numbers are declining.
