Street dog menace continues unabated in Kerala; Most victims in Thiruvananthapuram

KOCHI: In the last five years, 12,93,948 people were bitten by stray dogs in the state. Almost 3,16,793 people were bitten in 2024 alone. In 2020, it was 1,60,483. Thiruvananthapuram district had the highest number of dog bite victims in all five years - a total of 1,94,076 people.

Between 2020 and 2024, 94 people died due to rabies. 26 people died in 2024 alone. Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam saw 16 people from each district succumbing to rabies in the last four years alone. This was included in the RTI response received by Raju Vazhakkala, a native of Kakkanad.

In eight years, 8,246 complaints were received in connection with dog bite incidents. Almost 1063 cases were solved and decided by Justice Sirijagan Commission. Rs 8,70,32,638 compensations were paid. Ernakulam district received the most compensation - 212 people.

Local bodies do not take the government's circulars and instructions seriously, and this laxity has accounted for the recent surge in street dog attacks. Spaying and neutering (A.B.C.), shelter preparation, and license are not done. The panchayat director issued a circular to local body secretaries on August 26, 2022, to control rabies.

The local bodies explain that they cannot prepare the shelter due to lack of space. Vaccination certification for domestic animals has been stalled in many places for more than two years.