Not Dogs’ Own Country: Why Kerala is seeking Supreme Court’s permission to kill strays

The southern state of Kerala is facing ‘ruff’ times. In the backdrop of growing incidents of deadly stray dog behaviour and rising rabies deaths, the state government said it would seek the permission of the Supreme Court to cull aggressive and rabies-infected stray dogs.

Local self-government minister MB Rajesh said that the decision was taken after a high-level meeting was convened to discuss the harrowing situation arising from the stray dogs in the state. He also announced that a mass vaccination programme on animals for birth control would be carried out from 20 September to 20 October. Around 10,000 dogs will be vaccinated per day under the program run by the local authorities.

Rajesh also revealed that a long-term solution for the stray dog menace was also discussed in the meeting, where shelters at panchayat level came out as one of them.

What’s the reason for the Kerala government’s move to approach the Supreme Court? We take a better look.

Kerala’s stray dog menace

The state has long been struggling with the issue of stray dogs. As per information available, Kerala’s streets are home to an estimated 280,000 strays and their population is growing by about 20 per cent every year. Additionally, another 900,000 dogs are kept as pets in Kerala.

This year till date, around 1,00,000 people have suffered stray dog bites and 21 rabies deaths have been reported.

Of the 21 deaths, authorities said five had received anti-rabies vaccines. The matter earned the spotlight in national and international media when a 12-year-old girl, identified as Abhirami, from Perunadu in Pathanamthitta district died on 5 September of rabies after suffering the bite in August. Her death sparked demands for stringent measures against stray dogs.

Another incident on 5 September also put the focus of strays in the state; eight people were attacked by a stray dog in Attingal in Thiruvananthapuram district.

There are numerous instances of strays attacking people and biting them. On 11 September, a 12-year-old boy, Nooras, was riding his bicycle in front of his house in Kozhikode district’s Arakkinaru when a street dog suddenly jumped up on him and began biting him, before his family pulled him to safety. News Minute< reported that the 12-year-old was later admitted to Kozhikode Beach Hospital.

Stray Dog attack in Kerala… Stray feeding lobby must be happy for this…

Stray dogs are not endangered species for any one to protect them…. https://t.co/sejF3PI4lf

— Indu Makkal Katchi (Offl)