Other States - Puducherry   

Stray dog menace on the rise

Rajesh Nair

15 to 20 dog bite cases are reported to the General Hospital every day

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

WIDESPREAD DANGER: Stray dogs on a street at Rainbow Nagar in Puducherry.

PUDUCHERRY: Incidents of dog bite are on the rise in Puducherry and surrounding areas. Recently, a seven-year-old boy was chased and bitten by ferocious stray dogs while on his way home on 19th Cross Avvai Nagar.

Shankar (name changed), the boy, was bitten on his thigh and elbow and is now under medication. His father, a photographer, had already spent Rs.700 for two doses of Human Diploid Cell Vaccine, anti-rabies injection. The doctor has recommended a total of five doses of the vaccine as rabies preventive measure, says his father.

The incident was not an isolated one as medical records of the General Hospital here shows that on a daily average 15 to 25 dog bite cases are reported. In the last month alone, 215 cases were reported to the General Hospital and another 33 cases referred from tertiary centres and private hospitals.

The hospital had treated 16 persons as in-patient for anti-rabies and multiple injuries sustained due to dog bite in the last five months. The Government spends Rs.30 to Rs.50 lakh annually for free anti-rabies vaccine and related treatment, Dr. Govindarajan, Medical Superintendent of the general hospital told The Hindu.

Doctors at the GH say the actual number of dog bite cases could be much higher because only those patients who cannot afford to go for private treatment come to the Government hospital.

They said every stray dog-bite needs anti-rabies vaccination, as there was no treatment for rabies. A full-course of vaccination costs from Rs.1,500 to Rs.5,000, depending on the severity of the bite and general condition of the patient. Apart from the vaccination, patients have to take antibiotics, tetanus toxin and other measures to prevent wound infection, the informed. Majority of the victims are children, cyclists, two-wheeler drivers and those going for early morning and evening walk. A survey conducted a year ago by the Animal Welfare Department shows that there are 25,000 stray dogs within the two Municipality limits.

Even as the stray dog menace continues unabated, the Government still struggles to find a solution to the problem. Even the Animal Birth Control programme introduced years ago, was moving at slow pace.

The Local Administration officials said they had sterilised 1,353 dogs between September 2006 and March 2007.

Residents feel that the birth control programme will not yield any immediate results and have to find alternate measures, including shelter homes.

“We would constitute a committee to suggest measures to tackle the problem. This would be done before the month end,” E. Vallavan, Director of Local Administration Department, said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Stray dog menace on the rise
Kandasamy to convene meeting of officials today on welfare programmes
Karaikal Struggle Group members observe fast
Mauritius President visit on July 1

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu