This year, 53,000 people had to take treatment for dog bites in hospitals alone. (Representational image)

Highlights Gold coins to those who cull max number of stray dogs till December10

An alumni association has provided air guns to deal with dogs

90-year-old was mauled to death by a pack of street dogs on October 26

The alumni association of a prominent college has announced gold coins to the civic authorities which would kill the maximum number of stray dogs till December 10 in Kerala where four persons have lost their lives and over 700 have been injured in canine attacks in the last four months.In the wake of increasing stray dog menace in the state, office bearers of Old Students Welfare Association of Pala-based St Thomas College said the "gift" would be given to the heads of panchayats and municipalities across the state where most stray dogs are killed.The outfit had hit headlines recently for providing air guns at subsidised rates to deal with violent dogs.Earlier, cash incentives were also offered by a state-based industrialist for culling dogs."We are planning to give the gift to panchayat presidents and municipality chairmen in the state who lead in killing maximum number of stray dogs. Our aim is to ensure the safety of people from violent canines," James Pambaykkal, Association General Secretary, said.Accusing the government of inactivity on the stray dog issue, he said the association was attempting to end the menace with the participation of people.The gold coins would be bought with the contributions, collected from the representatives of the 1200 member-association, he said.The weight of the coins would be decided according to the total amount collected, James, a physics post-graduate who passed out from the college in 1984, said.He said the civic authorities, who apply for the gold coins, should submit day-to-day figures of the culled dogs.The stray dog issue in the state came into limelight again after the gruesome killing of 90-year-old Raghavan who was mauled to death by a pack of street dogs at Varkala on October 26.As per government figures, four persons were killed in the last four months in stray dog attacks and 701 people, including 175 children, were injured across the state.

This year, 53,000 people had to take treatment for dog bites in government medical college hospitals alone.As many as 88,172 suffered dog bites in 2013 while it was 1,19,119 in 2014 and 47,156 in 2015 in the state, the figures added.