30 Incidents of Stray Dog Bites Reported Everyday, Euthanizing Stray Dogs Only Solution: Kerala Local Body To Supreme Court

The Kannur District Panchayat from the State of Kerala in a recent affidavit has told the Supreme Court that an estimated 30 stray dog bites are being reported in Kannur district everyday.The Panchayat has informed the Apex Court that despite its best efforts to curb the issue, the incidents of stray dog attacks, bites and road accidents due to collision with dogs, are increasing day by day. The Panchayat has also stated that 465 children in Kannur were injured in stray dog attacks and approached government hospitals for treatment between January 2021 to July 2023 and most them had suffered serious injuries. The Affidavit also refers to the death of a 11-year-old autistic child named Nihal who was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs at Kannur in June this year which prompted the Panchayat to approach the Apex Court. A similar incident took place in Kottayam District of Kerala which led to the death of a 12 year, the affidavit states. The Panchayat has also pointed out the recent death of a 46-year-old manual labour named Surendran who died at Govt. Medical College, Kannur due to Rabies on 7th July 2023. The Affidavit states that the Kannur Panchayath had started four Animal Birth Control centres out of which three centres have become defunct, due to public outrage and a lack of funds. The Panchayat has stated that killing stray dogs ‘in some humane way’ is only solution to the problem. The Panchayat also suggested castration, predacides (use of chemicals) etc. as other options to control the dog population.In the written submission jointly filed by the Kannur Panchayat and the Calicut Municipal Corporation before the Apex Court, they have suggested forming of a committee, that will handle decisions related to seizure and euthanising of stray dogs. The decision should not rest solely with the Secretary of the Panchayath or Municipality, but with a committee comprising of 1) Chief of the Local Authority 2) Representative from the Public Health Department of the Local Authority and 3) A representative from an Animal Welfare organization. This will ensure a more balanced approach it has been suggested. In the written submission it has also been argued that the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules do not control or dilute the power of municipal authorities to destroy stray dogs. There is no conflict between the provisions of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 Act with the powers to destroy stray dogs under Panchayat Raj Act or Municipality Act, it has been argued. The application has been filed in a civil appeal challenging a Kerala High Court judgment of 2015, in which various directions were issued to local authorities to exercise the powers under the provisions of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Last year, the Kerala Government had also made a similar request before the Supreme Court.Later, the Child's Rights Commission filed its plea before the Supreme Court stating that 5794 stray dogs attacks were reported in 2019; 3951 cases in 2020; 7927 cases in 2021; 11776 cases were reported in 2022 and 6276 cases are reported upto 19th June, 2023. In the application, not only has the state commission asked to intervene in the matter but has also recommended the culling or confinement of stray dogs to tackle the problem of the increasing human-dog conflict.The Supreme Court will hear the matter today.Case Title: Animal Welfare Board of India V. People For Elimination of Stray Troubles C.A. No. 5988/2019

30 Incidents of Stray Dog Bites Reported Everyday, Euthanizing Stray Dogs Only Solution: Kerala Local Body To Supreme Court

Sheryl Sebastian

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