In 2021, 7,927 dog attacks were reported in the state, 11,776 were recorded in 2022 and 6,276 were recorded as of June 19, 2023, the children’s rights group said.
Post Date – 06:40 AM, Thu – 29 June 23
New Delhi: The Kerala Children’s Rights Agency has filed a plea with the Supreme Court seeking “immediate directions” such as provision of confinement facilities for stray dogs or culling of stray dogs to effectively curb the threat of canine attacks, especially to children.
The Kerala State Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights (KSCPCR) has sought directions from the Supreme Court to become a party in the pending case brought by the state government in 2019 over the threat of stray dogs.
The children’s rights agency, which also provided data on dog attack cases in the state, said: “Stray dogs may attack people or other animals, thereby posing a threat to public safety. Closing facilities or culling stray dogs can reduce to some extent The risk of such an event.” Worldwide, dog-transmitted rabies kills about 59,000 people a year, with India accounting for 36 percent of global rabies deaths, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“India also accounts for 65% of rabies deaths in Southeast Asia. The National Rabies Control Program reported 6,644 clinically suspected rabies cases and human deaths between 2012 and 2022. According to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, nearly 96% of Of the rabies cases are caused by stray dogs, so India leads the way in rabies control. The number of rabies deaths is the highest in the world,” said the child rights body.
Kerala reported 5,794 stray dog attacks in 2019 and the number dropped to 3,951 in 2020, the report said.
In 2021, the state reported 7,927 dog attacks, 11,776 cases were recorded in 2022 and 6,276 cases were recorded as of June 19, 2023, the report said.
“In a recent shocking incident, Nihal, an 11-year-old autistic child, was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs in Kannur on June 11, 2023,” the statement said, adding that Kottayam A similar incident occurred in Kerala state where a 12-year-old was killed last year by a stray dog attack.
Seeking judicial intervention to curb such cases, the report said, “Stray dogs may carry diseases such as rabies that can be transmitted to humans. Closed facilities for stray dogs can help control the spread of such diseases. Human beings, destruction of property and creating a nuisance among people, especially children.” Earlier on June 21, the Supreme Court judge sought the Kerala government’s decision on another plea filed by the Kannur District Administrative Board. Response, requesting permission to euthanize “suspected rabid” and “extremely dangerous” stray dogs in Kannur district. Judge Surya Kant and Judge MM Sundresh’s leave of absence sent notices to Kerala and directed it to file its reply by July 7.
The plea raised the issue of stray dogs attacking Nihal. Despite every effort to contain the problem, the problem persists, the report said.
On June 11, 11-year-old Nihal was found seriously injured in bushes near his home.
The autistic boy went missing from his home and was later found with serious injuries. He died after being taken to hospital.
The Supreme Court is dealing with a batch of petitions concerning orders passed by various civic bodies to cull stray dogs that have become dangerous, especially in Kerala and Mumbai.
