BENGALURU: On an average, about 1,000 dog bites are reported every month in the city, but the heartening news is that the numbers are on the decline over the years.Between April and November 2015, 7,754 cases came to light. According to statistics available with City Express, 24,120 cases were registered in 2010-11.The more recent numbers are 22,177 (2011-12), 22,913 (2012-13), 17,933 (2013-14) and 19,488 (2014-15).Of the 7,754 bites registered in 2015 — counted from the financial year beginning April — more than 60 per cent are attributed to stray dogs.
Monday Incident: A day after a three-year-old girl was mauled by a stray dog at Medahalli in K R Puram, BBMP officials visited the place.Dr Maheshwara Gowda, Joint Director (Animal Husbandry), BBMP, told City Express anti-rabies vaccines were being given to strays. The BBMP will also be neutering them under its Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.On Tuesday, the BBMP caught 20 dogs in and around Medahalli for birth control, and 27 were given anti-rabies shots. “This will continue for two to three days at Medahalli and surrounding areas,’’ he added.
Referring to the incident on Monday, Maheshwara Gowda said BBMP workers had caught the dog. “It is a community dog. People in Medahalli were feeding it. This means it is not a stray,’’ he said.The dog is under observation for rabies. “It took half a day to catch this particular dog. It was very quick but we managed to catch it by afternoon,’’ he said.
Girl Shifted to Ward
The three-year-old girl admitted to Sathya Sai Hospital following a dog bite at Medahalli on Monday has been moved from the ICU to a general ward. “We will bear all her medical expenses,’’ BBMP Joint Director Maheshwara Gowda said.
Animal Birth Control
The BBMP is conducting animal birth control programmes at various places. From April to November 2015, 21,363 dogs were put through the procedures. “On any given day, we get 90 dogs for birth control,’’ a municipal worker said.
One Dog Per Flat
The Urban Development Department has come up with a a draft dog policy. It allows only one dog in a flat and not more than three dogs in an individual house.” Owners have to apply for a licence from the BBMP with an anti-rabies vaccination certificate. We will give a card for the owners,’’ an official said. The government is also mulling a project to insert microchips into dogs. When read, they will give vaccination and other details.
Resident Speaks
Sometimes dogs run behind my bike. I have to ride faster. Politicians travel in cars, they might not have any problem, says Radha, a resident of Indiranagar.