Table of Contents
What is the matter at hand?
The Supreme Court has been approached by the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights which has emphasized the need to address the problem of children being attacked by rabid stray dogs. It has urged the euthanasia of these dangerous canines. The child rights organization has filed an interlocutory application demanding severe consequences for individuals who thoughtlessly desert these dogs.
Why has the Commission filed such a report?
The commission has received numerous complaints about the distressing situation of children who have been fatally bitten by stray dogs and the menace they cause. Instances of repeated attacks by stray dogs are being reported. “Unlike well-behaved domesticated dogs, stray dogs cannot be trained and can display aggressive and dangerous behaviour when they gather in groups,” the application emphasized. Offering no comprehensive solution, the applicant went on to state that the State has devised numerous schemes to address the issue of stray dogs.
Consequently, even after sterilization and vaccination against rabies, these dogs are left wandering the streets without suitable arrangements for food and shelter. As a result, they become a nightmare and pose a threat to children and the general public. To guarantee the safety of children and the welfare of the community, it is essential to apprehend and confine all stray dogs in a secure facility,” the application asserted.
Two recent incidents of stray dog attacks on children have prompted the Kannur Panchayat to seek involvement in the case, which the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on July 12. The central issue stems from a verdict in 2006 by the Kerala High Court, wherein it sanctioned local self-governance bodies with the power to put stray dogs to sleep. Highlighting the lack of awareness among people in India, the child rights body from Kerala issues with recurring attacks and abandoned pets and the need for responsible pet ownership
What solutions were proposed?
The child rights organization submitted that the lack of awareness about the growing crisis of stray dogs can contribute to endangering public safety. These dogs have been known to attack individuals or other animals. Such incidents can be mitigated by the culling of stray dogs and/or housing them in enclosed facilities, as stated in the report. Through stray dogs, the child rights body highlighted the possibility of rabies transmission. The application added that stray dogs, with their barking, attacks on people, property destruction, and ability to instil fear, particularly in children, create quite a disturbance.
Related cases
Stray dogs and the problems created by them has often been a subject of litigation. Stray dog’s issues are currently being addressed by various High Courts of various states regarding their welfare and regulation. The Jammu and Kashmir High Court put forth a request for data on the number of abandoned canines and the actions taken to prevent rabies in the Union Territory in the month of July of 2022.
In September of the previous year, the Supreme Court proposed that the Kerala government should come up with a compromise to handle the stray dog issues considering animal rights. Afterwards, the Kerala High Court ordered government hospitals to provide free medical services and essential vaccines to those attacked by dogs until the State creates a plan to address the increasing number of stray dogs. In April this year, the Bombay High Court commanded a residential society in Mumbai to address grievances by members against security personnel who use sticks to scare, menace, or injure animals.
