The Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has approached the Supreme Court, emphasizing the necessity of euthanizing aggressive stray dogs suspected of carrying rabies in the State in order to tackle the problem of dog attacks.
In an interlocutory application, the child rights organization has also called for stringent action against individuals who recklessly abandon such dogs.
“The applicant Commission has received many complaints about the nuisance of stray dogs and the plight of children who have been fatally bitten by them … Repeated attacks from stray dogs is being reported. Stray dogs do not have the lame nature of a faithful domesticated dog. It is just like a vermin and when they gathered their attacking nature will be showed and become dangerous“, the application stated.
The applicant added that while there are several schemes that have been formulated by the State to tackle the stray dog issue, none of them have been a complete solution.
“Even after sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination, they are left in the street and since they do not have proper arrangements for food and shelter, they become a threat and nightmare to children and the common people. It is essential for the safety of children and public welfare that all stray dogs shall be caught and kept in a safe place,” the application stated.
The Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for the stray dogs case on July 12. Additionally, the Kannur Panchayat has requested to be impleaded in the matter due to two recent incidents of stray dog attacks on children. The primary case pertains to the challenge against a 2006 judgment of the Kerala High Court, which granted local self-government institutions the authority to euthanize stray dogs. The child rights organization in Kerala has raised concerns about the lack of awareness among the Indian population regarding responsible pet ownership and the risks associated with abandoning pets.
“This lack of awareness contributes to the increasing stray dog crises … stray dogs can pose a risk to public safety by attacking people or other animals,” the KSCRB submitted.
It was further argued that the culling of stray dogs and/or their confinement in secure facilities can help mitigate the risk of such incidents to a certain extent. The child rights organization also emphasized the potential danger of rabies transmission through stray dogs.
Several High Courts are currently handling cases related to the welfare and regulation of stray dogs.
In July 2022, the Jammu and Kashmir High Court sought information regarding the population of stray dogs and anti-rabies initiatives in the Union Territory.
In September of the same year, the Top Court orally suggested that the Kerala government should strive to find a balanced approach to address the issue of stray dogs, taking into account both public safety and animal rights. Following this, the Kerala High Court directed government hospitals to provide free medical treatment and necessary vaccines to victims of dog bites until the State establishes a proper mechanism to handle the growing problem of stray dogs.
In April 2023, the Bombay High Court directed a residential society in Mumbai to address complaints from residents regarding security guards who use sticks to intimidate, threaten, or harm animals.
In November 2022, the Apex Court expressed its disapproval of a Bombay High Court order that had imposed fines on individuals who feed stray dogs in Nagpur.
