Spike in Dog and Cat Bites in Anantnag District: Residents Urge Administration for Intervention
PTK NEWS DESK
By Sameer Ahmad
Anantnag,10 August: District Anantnag is grappling with a significant rise in cases of stray dog and cat bites, with official data revealing that 1,862 such incidents have been reported since March 2023. This sudden spike has become a major concern for residents across various villages and towns in the district.
In the past month alone, the Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag attended to around 155 cases of dog and cat bites. The attacks by packs of free-ranging dogs have been reported not only in residential areas but also in the main towns of Anantnag District.
Data from the Health Department shows that 1,862 individuals have received treatment at GMC Anantnag for dog and cat bite cases since March 2023.
According to official sources, there have been ongoing discussions about the launch of an Animal Birth Control programme by local authorities, but the population of stray dogs continues to rise. “It is very scary to walk during the evening and night hours as sometimes the dogs behave aggressively, attacking pedestrians. Reports of stray dogs attacking people come in daily from various villages in Anantnag district,” one source said.
In an order issued on March 7, 2024, the Central Government directed state governments to record instances of bites caused by stray and pet dogs separately. The Director General of Health Services (DGHS) instructed states to provide quality data on animal bites from all public health centres, community health centres, district hospitals, and tertiary care facilities, including specific details regarding dog bites caused by pets and strays, as reported by the Indian Express.
Meanwhile, speaking to Press Trust of Kashmir (PTK), Dr. Mohd Amin, Superintendent of the District Veterinary Hospital Anantnag, said that 534 pet cats are registered with their office in Anantnag, and they are being vaccinated according to guidelines.
PTK also attempted to contact the Executive Officer of the Municipal Council Anantnag for a response, but the call was not answered.
