Dog Bite Incidents in Indian Cities: Who Is Accountable?
Over the past few weeks, Indian cities and towns have witnessed a disturbing rise in dog bite incidents, chasing, and fatal mauling, reported continuously across states. Despite sincere efforts by municipal bodies through sterilisation and control measures, the problem persists and poses a serious threat to public safety, especially for children and senior citizens.
A key difficulty faced by civic authorities is the unregulated feeding of stray dogs in public spaces. While stray dogs generally do not attack those who feed them, they often become territorial and aggressive towards other citizens, turning streets, parks, and residential areas into fear zones.
The recent Supreme Court observations and judgments, including heavy compensation awarded in dog bite cases, have brought the issue of liability and accountability into sharp focus. This raises an important public question: Can public safety be compromised in the name of compassion without responsibility?
India believes in coexistence, but compassion must go hand in hand with civic responsibility and clear rules. Feeding of stray dogs may need regulation, designated locations, and accountability, in coordination with local authorities.
This is not about blaming individuals, but about protecting the fundamental right of citizens to life and safety, while remaining humane to animals.
Your views and suggestions are invited. Jai Hind more
A key difficulty faced by civic authorities is the unregulated feeding of stray dogs in public spaces. While stray dogs generally do not attack those who feed them, they often become territorial and aggressive towards other citizens, turning streets, parks, and residential areas into fear zones.
The recent Supreme Court observations and judgments, including heavy compensation awarded in dog bite cases, have brought the issue of liability and accountability into sharp focus. This raises an important public question: Can public safety be compromised in the name of compassion without responsibility?
India believes in coexistence, but compassion must go hand in hand with civic responsibility and clear rules. Feeding of stray dogs may need regulation, designated locations, and accountability, in coordination with local authorities.
This is not about blaming individuals, but about protecting the fundamental right of citizens to life and safety, while remaining humane to animals.
Your views and suggestions are invited. Jai Hind more
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Civic Bodies are doing nothing in many cities. ABC measures will not stop dog bites. The civic Bodies and panchayat should construct dog ponds on top priority and shift strays dogs within 3 months to minimize dog bite incidents. Impose heavy penalties on non working civic Bodies. more
Jan 20
I totally agree, some action should be taken immediately, stray dogs are a menace and dangerous too! more
Jan 19
I totally agree. Two wheelers and cyclists and poor children are attacked frequently by stray dogs during night hours and animal right activists are often don't face problems and hail from upper class. more
Jan 16
Several decades ago, there used to be a city dog-van going around on Madras streets, capturing stray dogs, which wouldn't have ID around their necks. It may behoove for local governments to revisit that tactics. more
Jan 16
It appears that lobbying by certain animal-lover groups has discouraged open media reporting on this issue. However, the growing incidents of stray dogs chasing, mauling people, and causing rabies and even deaths have now brought the menace into the open and can no longer be ignored. more
Jan 15
at least this time SC is spot on. They remarked, it is difficult to read the mind of a dog which is going to bite you!!! they also remarked (when a counsel for the dog lovers said that there is a case of a dog which has been living in a hospital for nearly a decade and there is no incident of the dog biting anyone)... then SC asked will the dog be allowed into the Operation Theatre also?!!!! dogs have ticks and other diseases which will harm patients they said... High time something drastic is done to curb dog bites menace. more
Jan 16
