Can Govt tackle stray dog crisis it created?

Srinagar, Aug 18: The burgeoning stray dog population of J&K has created a public health crisis, with significant dog bite cases and a looming rabies risk.

With an estimated 3.15 lakh stray dogs and the second highest dog population ratio in India, the failure of authorities in instituting a scientific and robust strategy for animal birth control and vaccination has allowed J&K’s neighbourhoods to be perilous.

The sheer number of dogs in J&K creates fears and reasons for restricting children from venturing out alone and shunning morning walks and routine activities for many.

In 2024, J&K recorded 51,027 dog bite cases, a major increase of 60 percent from 22,110 bite cases in 2022.

In January 2025 alone, as per the data presented by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in Lok Sabha in April this year, 4824 cases were reported.

Over the past decade, thousands of children have borne the brunt of dog bites due to their vulnerability.

The risks are serious – rabies is a 100 percent fatal disease once symptoms appear.

This year, a young man hailing from Srinagar outskirts died of rabies.

According to the J&K Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), in 2023 and 2024, three deaths have been recorded due to rabies in J&K.

The figure, experts believe, may be more, and under-reported.

Rural areas have more serious challenges with the limited access to anti-rabies vaccines and immunoglobulins after exposure, leaving victims vulnerable.

Sometimes, just to evade the hassle of travelling, smaller bites, equally dangerous, are ignored.

The crisis is fuelled by the lack of an Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme that could sterilise and vaccinate dogs.

According to data shared by Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), Srinagar is the only district where the ABC programme has worked on and off, with the total number of vaccinated dogs in the previous three years being 11,789.

In other districts, the ABC programme has collapsed even before it started.

In 2025, administrative delays, expired contracts, and slow tenders made no sterilisation possible in Srinagar.

The Supreme Court ruling last week dumped the “catch-sterilise-release” model as mandated by the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023.

It called for the relocation of entire dog populations of dogs in Delhi to shelters.

However, such a policy is not connected to ground realities, infrastructure status, and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act.

Beyond rabies, the stray dog menace creates broader public health and safety issues.

The psychological toll is significant.

Voices are growing for scientific and immediate solutions – sterilisation and vaccination drives, and creation of shelters in every district for aggressive, sick, and injured dogs.

However, the J&K government has not convened any meeting to discuss the massive dog population and its control in the recent past, an official in the government said.

“The dog population is the result of our inaction. Now, it is time for the government to act and undo what its complacency has created,” Muhammad Zaid, a Srinagar resident, said.