In 2022, Delhi alone has reported over 51,000 cases of dog bites
India accounts for 36 per cent of global deaths due to rabies. Representative photo: iStock. This story has been updated
A seminar on stray dog menace was organised by former Union minister Vijay Goel at the Constitution Club of India, New Delhi, on May 10, 2023. The discussions following it sought solutions from the Resident Welfare Associations on the growing menace.
However, the meeting was disrupted by a group of animal rights activists and animal lovers barging into the public forum, which turned out to be a heated scuffle between two women. The incident caught social media attention after a video of them slapping each other went viral.
In his introductory speech, Goel repeatedly asserted that he was not against dogs. “I don’t hate dogs or against any animals. But I want to find a solution to the increasing dog menace in the city resulting in dog bites before people start developing hatred towards the animal,” he said at the meeting.
But the meeting that lasted for almost three hours saw short bursts of a heated exchange of words among attendees, disturbing its flow.
There hasn’t been any dog census in Delhi for the past eight years; hence there is a lack of information on the dog population, Goel stated.
“The issue has become grave as in the past six months. Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia, Delhi’s major hospitals, reported 29,698 and 18,183 dog bite cases alone,” he said.
In 2022, Delhi alone has reported over 51,000 cases of dog bites. It is estimated that Delhi has over 0.6 million stray dogs and there are over 60 million stray dogs in India, he added.
“India accounts for 36 per cent of global deaths due to rabies,” according to the World Health Organization.
Also read: India’s wildlife is under threat from free roaming dogs
Goel cited examples where dogs have mauled children and attacked people. “Hence, it becomes imperative to find a solution before the situation worsens,” he added.
As dogs and humans should co-exist, there must be an amicable solution before the situation worsens, Goel said. The meeting also saw people sharing their views and opinions.
“People fear walking or venturing out at night. The High Court had directed to relocate dogs, but it has not been implemented,” said Vijay Kumar Singh, a resident of Noida.
On the other hand, animal rights activists pressed that dog bite cases are rare and they need to be fed and taken care of by the locals.
“Dogs needs to be adopted and fed by the locals to meet their basic needs,” said Amita Singh, a resident of Gurugram and patron of Walk for Animals and Habitat.
Singh said effective sterilisation is the key to controlling the population. Residents, in many cases, have spent money from their pockets to neuter the dogs and follow up with the officials and non-profits.
“Such steps, with the help of locals and officials forming a committee to effectively implement the Animal Birth Control guidelines (ABC), will help resolve the issue,” she said.
On being asked if culling could be a solution to curb the dog population, Vineeta Srinandan, a resident of the NRI Complex in Navi Mumbai, said:
Ideally, controlled euthanasia could be a solution to curb the menace. It would be painless culling, but as the SC has upheld the rights of the animals and protection received by dogs by multiple laws, it doesn’t seem to be getting any approval.
Recommending a solution, Srinandan said dogs should be allotted a localised shelter or space in a residential area. They should not be allowed to roam freely.
“People can feed the dog, adopt and walk them as is done with pet dogs. But letting them loose will not help solve dog population crisis, especially with poor implementation of ABC guidelines by the local governments,” she said.
Meanwhile, Citizen’s group India Unites for Animal Rights on Thursday refuted the allegations made by Goel. “There was no ‘gate-crashing’ at any event at Constitution Club on May 10, 2023,” a press statement the group said.
It explained that a session entitled ‘Peaceful Co-Existence: As Simple As ABC’ was organised by the group at the Deputy Speaker’s Hall, Constitution Club.
“We, the organisers, are shocked to hear allegations that our attendees ‘gate crashed’ into an adjoining event. This is a completely false allegation,” it stated.
The group claimed that it was told that the adjoining event organised by the former Union minister was labelled as a discussion forum to which the members were invited. “In that case, there can be no ‘gate crashing,” it said.
The press statement further said that an open discussion fundamentally invites all points of view and offers a platform for differing opinions, during which there is always the chance of friction.
“We are appalled that anyone should make false allegations against a well intentioned citizens gathering to try and gain attention and misplaced sympathy and expect an apology,” it said.
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