Despite sterilisation drive, no let-up in dog-bite cases

Ravneet Singh
Tribune News Service
Patiala, February 11

Even as the local Municipal Corporation initiated an animal birth control programme and municipal councils and nagar panchayats carry out need-based drives, there has been no let-up in the incidents of dog bite in the district.

The bite cases involving animals, including dogs, cats and monkeys, recorded in the district rose last year. According to the data available, as many as 12,496 cases of animal bite were recorded from January to November last year. The number stood at 11,698 in 2018. Of these, 10,994 were of dog-bite.

Officials in the Health Department said over 95 per cent of cases were of dog-bite.

In November 2018, the Municipal Corporation, Patiala, had started a programme for sterilising dogs. Under this drive, 4,800 canines were sterilised till December 2019 and 410 the next month. The programme was initiated after a year and following criticism of the civic body by residents.

Dr Ankit Narang, municipal veterinary doctor, said, “The programme was initiated over a year ago and touched all 60 wards of the city. It has started showing results now. The number of cases has started declining.” Meanwhile, there is no uniform action plan for areas under the municipal councils and nagar panchayats. The drives are initiated along with the Animal Husbandry Department as per requirement.

Jashanpreet Kaur Gill, Deputy Director, Local Bodies, said her office provided a team of officials for carrying out sterilisation drive as and when demanded by the Animal Husbandry Department. “A similar drive will be initiated in the Sanaur area this week,” she added.