To bring down the incidence of dog bites, including pets and strays, the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is conducting an awareness drive in all its schools. Till April this year, 6,735 dog bite cases were reported in the city, while it was 23,764 in 2012.
During the campaign, the BBMP officials told students to be gentle with dogs and not to provoke them.
“When we spoke to the students, nearly 80 per cent of them said they provoked the dogs. We are trying to educate them so that they do not invite trouble by doing so,” said Joint Director, Animal Husbandry Department, Dr Parvez Ahmed Piran. Imparting education on waste management is also part of the programme, as garbage attracts stray dogs and dogs tend to be more aggressive near places where animal waste is dumped, he noted.
The department also gave inputs on how to identify ferocious, rabid and diseased dogs and advised children to keep away from such animals and also inform the officials.
They also circulated pamphlets and handbills on rabies, dog bites, preventive measures, vaccination and emergency service phone numbers.
Piran also claimed that dog bite cases are decreasing in the city over the past few years. From 35,967 reported dog bite cases in 2004-05, it has come down to 19,066 cases in BBMP limits 2011-12.
“Till May this year, we sterilised 10,855, Vaccinated 17,760 and culled 42 terminally ill and diseased dogs as per Animal Birth Control Guidelines,” said Dr Piran.