New Delhi: The recent death of Gujarat businessman Parag Desai has once again brought the spotlight onto India’s stray dog menace.
This is not the first time that stray dogs have killed or attacked people in the country. There have been several incidents where dogs attacking humans have made headlines.
The statistics reveal some shocking details. From 2019 to November 2022, India recorded nearly 16 million cases of stray dog bites, with a daily average of over 10,000 cases, according to parliamentary data. The National Rabies Control Programme documented 6,644 suspected cases and human rabies deaths between 2012 and 2022. In 2022, both Kerala and Punjab reported nearly 10,000 cases, whereas Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Kashmir reported 1,000 to 10,000 cases. In 2019, Ahmedabad alone had over 200 dog bite cases every day.
As of 2023, India accounts for 36% of the world’s rabies deaths, as reported by the World Health Organization. What is more concerning is that 30% of these victims are below the age of 15. Incidents of children being attacked by dogs often circulate on social media, sparking calls for immediate action to address this concerning issue. Just last month, a 14-year-old boy named Shahbaz died of rabies in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
While India still reflects on how to tackle this issue, several other countries have already implemented approaches to address the problem of stray dogs.
Let’s check how the Netherlands and the US have addressed the issue of stray dogs
The Netherlands proudly declares itself stray dog-free, attributing its success to a CNVR program—Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, and Return. Local authorities have increased taxes on store-bought dogs, encouraging adoption from shelters. Dutch laws mandate the spaying or sterilizing of every dog, with government funding for these procedures. Fines exist for cruelty, and a dedicated force handles such cases. Concerned citizens can reach out to this force, and numerous “no-kill” shelters provide a safe haven for animals.
The United States employs a system to curb the stray dog issue by accommodating them in animal shelters, many of which follow a “no-kill” policy unless the animals are terminally ill. However, the U.S. faces challenges such as a space crunch in shelters, leading to the annual euthanasia of thousands of dogs. Reports suggest that financial difficulties and pandemic-related uncertainties have compelled some owners to abandon pets. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals estimates that over 3.3 million dogs enter U.S. shelters every year. As shelter space diminishes, more animals end up abandoned on the streets.