Kashmir’s Canine Chaos Sparks Urgent Call for Action

SRINAGAR: As incidents of dog bites increase in Kashmir, there is a growing need for sterilization and proper waste disposal. According to doctors, sterilizing and vaccinating dogs can help control their population, prevent rabies, and reduce attacks. They emphasized that sterilization is the sole scientifically-proven method of controlling the stray dog population.

“Every day, a large number of people are falling prey to dog bites. The canines are storming streets, chasing cars, pulling down bicycle riders, and often attacking pedestrians and school children,” they said.

A few days ago, a minor boy was mauled by dogs in Beighpora Awantipora in Pulwama. Doctors treating him said that the wounds were so deep that even his lungs were injured, and the incident is enough to show the gravity of dog bite menace in Kashmir. They said that the minor boy was brought to SMHS Hospital in critical condition with multiple injuries, including injuries to the scalp, chest, shoulder, thigh, and other parts. There were deep wounds on his body, and his vitals were deranged when he was brought to the hospital, they said.

“The patient is stable now, and his multiple injuries have been stitched and repaired with the help of plastic and ENT surgeons, and we are hopeful that he will recover soon,” they said.

Parents of the minor said that he was attacked by the dogs in farmland when no one was there, but the main reason behind it is the improper disposal of waste that is luring dogs. They said that both the public and the government are responsible for the improper disposal of waste, but action needs to be taken immediately as today it has happened with us and tomorrow the same can happen with others.

Despite going through such a difficult phase, nobody from the administration has even called us, they said, adding that the government must take steps immediately to eradicate the growing dog bite menace.

An official from the anti-rabies clinic SMHS said that from 1st April 2022 till 31st March 2023, as many as 6,875 bite cases were reported to ARC SMHS, and most of them were from Srinagar. Giving details, he said that among animal bites in the last year, 4,912 animal bite cases were reported from Srinagar at ARC SMHS, 317 from Budgam, 201 from Baramulla, 134 from Kupwara, 168 from Bandipora, 301 from Ganderbal, 221 from Pulwama, 138 from Shopian, 147 from Kulgam, 85 from Anantnag, and 231 from other areas.

Rabies is an invariably fatal viral disease resulting in approximately 59,000 human deaths per year globally, with 95% of cases occurring in Africa and Asia. The only way to prevent a rabies death is vaccination of an animal bite victim. In Kashmir, the burden and characteristics of dog bites are not routinely captured by the health system in place. (KNO)