No end to dog-bite cases in city

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 25

On Friday morning at 6.30 am when five-year-old Isha Garg stepped out (running) of her home to board a car stationed in front of her house at Model Town Phase-1 on the main road, three stray dogs started barking at her while one of them leapt on her and bit her leg. Isha, along with her parents, was to travel to Jalandhar to attend a function but finally landed in the paediatrics OPD of Mother and Child Hospital (a unit of Civil Hospital).

Of late, cases of dog bite have risen in the city with the authorities concerned not ensuring appropriate action (allegedly giving tacit approval) to curb this problem. The official apathy has only aggravated the problem with stray dogs pouncing on residents at any hour of the day.

Like Isha, there are three more residents living in the same colony who were bit by stray dogs in the past one month. The area people rued that they had written to the authorities but no efforts were made by the latter to impound these dogs.

Rohit Garg, father of Isha, said, “Most people fail to venture out of house alone, especially during late evening hours, in our area that houses mainly SCF (shop-cum-flat) complexes. It is a grave public concern that needs to be dealt on priority.”

Dog bite cases from different locations of the city are also reported. Though no substantial increase in the number of dog bite cases were reported at the Civil Hospital that sees approximately 300 cases in one month at general OPD section and around 20 to 25 dog bite cases at paediatrics unit, the city residents fear for their safe and secure movement in public spaces such as roads, parks and markets areas among others.

Apart from dog bite cases there have been reportage of few and far between cases of stray dog mauling as well in the city.

When contacted Senior Deputy Mayor Tarsem Goyal said, “The laws with regard to animals need to be relaxed to give a free hand for corporation to handle the stray god menace. A possible way out is construction of dog shelter houses where their diet, medical requirements and sterilization could be done easily. But for that government needs to come up with a comprehensive plan involving manpower and funds on large scale.”