Even as cases of dog bites in the city are increasing with each passing day, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has asked the Dinanagar civic body to make arrangements to ensure that such incidents show a substantial decrease within a month.
City-based advocate Kavi Raj Saini had taken up cudgels on behalf of the beleaguered residents by petitioning the high court. He did so after representations sent by residents to senior officers fell on
deaf ears.
The Municipal Committee (MC) Executive Officer (EO), Vijay Dogra, said, “The MC will adhere to the order in letter and spirit.”
The dog menace had assumed gigantic proportions in recent days, with residents of all 15 wards reporting dog-bite cases almost every day.
“We are drafting a policy wherein dogs will be captured by the MC’s dog-catchers and sterilised. A proper complaint mechanism is also being put into place,” said an MC official.
Dinanagar MLA Aruna Chaudhary welcomed the court’s decision. She said, “It was a long-awaited verdict. A multifaceted approach involving municipal action, public awareness and responsible pet ownership is necessary to ensure the safety of residents and reduce man-dog conflicts.”
MC officials said that, keeping in view the high court orders, it had become imperative for them to reduce food sources for stray dogs by securing garbage, which in turn would reduce territorial aggression among canines.
Normally, dog-bite cases witness an uptick during the summer months as soaring temperatures lead to aggression among canines. However, the problem had become so severe in the city that dog-bite incidents occurred even during winter months.
A veterinary doctor said, “Canines retaliate when they are shooed away or attacked by people. Residents, too, should act responsibly. We will work in tandem with the MC officials to intensify sterilisation. Vaccination programmes, too, will be introduced to manage stray dog populations and reduce aggression among dogs.”
