The residents have also demanded dispensaries and hospitals to be fully equipped with medicines and anti-rabie... Read More

PANCHKULA: Over 135 residents of Panchkula have sent a letter to the Prime Minister Office (PMO), Haryana chief minister office (CMO), home minister, minister urban local bodies (ULB), chief secretary, among other department heads over the issue of stray dog menace and increasing dog bite cases in Panchkula.

The residents mentioned that stray dog menace has reached an alarming level and needed immediate attention.

"Stray dogs have created a terror for people. There is a threat to human life. Not a day passes without reporting a dog bite case," said the residents.

Stray dogs in groups can be seen roaming freely in parks, markets and other public places, including religious places. Often the young and the old become victim to stray dog bite. Children as well as the elderly are more vulnerable to attack. Dogs continue to attack pedestrians, cyclists and two-wheelers.

Residents have also mentioned that the incidents are frequently reported in newspapers, but nothing has been done to solve the issue.

R K Aggarwal, president of the Lok Sarvhitakri Society, said, "Thousands of stray dogs are spread across the city and no step has been taken so far."

At Panchkula civil hospital, more than 4,000 dog bite cases have been reported in 2019 so far. These are apart from the victims receiving treatment at other government and private hospitals in the city, allege residents.

The residents also requested to chalk out a plan to strengthen the animal birth control (ABC) programme and check the menace. While suggesting a few ideas, they mentioned that there was a need to frame a policy for treatment and compensation to victims of dog bite cases.

In order to tackle the growing population, the sterilisation programme by the municipal corporation should be monitored vigorously. Area-wise special teams should be constituted with assistance of reputed NGOs.

Responsibility of the authorities concerned should be fixed to deal with the menace. More dog vans should be provided for transportation of street dogs.

Similarly, more ambulance-cum-clinical vans be provided for sterilisation and immunisation.

The residents have also demanded dispensaries and hospitals to be fully equipped with medicines and anti-rabies vaccine. They said anti-rabies vaccine should be made available free of cost at all the veterinary centres and hospitals.

