THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala’s struggle to contain its spiralling stray dog population is being severely hampered by the absence of veterinary surgeons in local self-government institutions (LSGIs). Despite recurring attacks and mounting public outcry, only five out of more than 1,200 LSGIs currently have veterinary surgeons on their rolls.
Local bodies - comprising 941 grama panchayats, 152 block panchayats, 87 municipalities, and six corporations - are expected to spearhead Animal Birth Control (ABC) and vaccination drives. Yet, except for a handful of corporations, almost all remain dependent on the Animal Husbandry Department’s overstretched veterinary hospitals. These hospitals are already burdened with wide-ranging responsibilities such as livestock development, disease control, and general veterinary services, leaving little bandwidth for stray dog management.
According to official estimates, Kerala has nearly 2.9 lakh stray dogs. Experts warn that without strengthening local-level veterinary infrastructure and resources, the crisis could escalate further.
“Most schemes and projects for stray dog management are delayed or derailed due to the lack of dedicated veterinary doctors under LSGD. We have urged the government to appoint veterinary surgeons at least at the block panchayat level,” said K Suresh, general secretary of the Kerala Grama Panchayat Association.
The situation in 87 municipalities is also the same. “Veterinary hospitals do provide support, but having our own doctors would allow us to run stray dog management programmes more effectively,” said M Krishnadas, chairman of the Chamber of Municipal Chairmen Kerala.
The Indian Veterinary Association (IVA) has also flagged the structural shortcomings. IVA president Pratheep Kumar M K noted that veterinarians in the Animal Husbandry Department cannot devote sufficient time exclusively for stray dog control. “We have submitted a memorandum to the government seeking a veterinary public health wing to tackle zoonotic diseases,” he said.
Only 5 out of more than 1,200 LSGIs currently have veterinary surgeons on their rolls
Structural shortcomings
Except for a handful of corporations, almost all remain dependent on the animal husbandry dept’s veterinary hospitals
Alleging that a vaccine lobby is actively working behind the inaction to kill violent stray dogs, former bureaucrat Biju Prabhakar urged the government to immediately intervene in the issue.
“In light of the Supreme Court directive that no life should be prioritised above that of a human, the state government should step forward to solve the issue,” he said, while inaugurating a protest against the inaction, organised by the Confederation of Residents Association and Welfare Association in front of the Secretariat.
Biju said anti-rabies vaccine manufacturers appoint lawyers to mislead people into believing that the ABC Act restricts the killing of stray dogs.