Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 12 (UNI) Over the past five years, stray dogs have bitten 1.3 million people, resulting in 109 deaths, including 11 who received rabies vaccinations in Kerala, said Congress leader Cherian Philip.
“In view of the seriousness of the issue, the recent Supreme Court ruling directed that stray dogs in Delhi and its surrounding areas should be captured within six weeks and housed in shelters. The SC ruling should be implemented in Kerala as well, given the state’s urban character,” he said.
The Supreme Court, describing the stray dog menace as a serious problem, has warned that strict action will be taken against anyone obstructing the capture of such dogs.
The Kerala High Court’s directive to declare the stray dog menace, that spread rabies, as a state disaster, becomes even more relevant in light of the Supreme Court verdict.
“Since it is impractical to capture, sterilise, vaccinate, and house millions of stray dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, both the Supreme Court and the High Court should urge the Central government to amend animal laws to permit their culling,” he said.
“It is contradictory that humans protect dangerous stray dogs that threaten human life while killing and eating livestock such as goats, cattle, pigs, and chickens,” Philip added.
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