Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 11 (BPNS)
The Local self-government minister of Kerala, M.B. Rajesh will hold a high-level meeting on Monday to take urgent measures against the stray dog menace in the state.
It is to be noted that the state is witnessing spiraling stray dog attacks and the anti-rabies vaccine have found ineffective in some cases. The minister will be meeting top officials of the local self-government to find a solution to the issue of stray dog menace.
While there is a 2001 law that prevents killing of stray dogs, the government has an option for animal birth control and inoculation of stray dogs which is a limited option.
The government also wants to prevent any vigilante action against the stray dogs by the irritant locals as many cases of rabies-related deaths have been reported from various areas of the state. It is to be noted that already four cases of rabies-related deaths due to suspected vaccine failure are also in the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting.
The state health department has already withdrawn one batch of anti- rabies vaccines from circulation and the department has already commenced an internal audit on the efficacy of cold chain storage facilities that protect anti-rabies vaccine potency.
The Minister while speaking to media persons at Kannur said, “ There is a special drive to curb the stray dog menace and we need the support of voluntary organizations, local bodies, and animal rescue groups in this.”
It may be recalled that the state has already proposed a license for pet dogs. The local bodies department has also taken measures to remove the garbage that has piled up in many areas of the state.
Stray dog menace and the attacks of a pack of stray dogs on walkers, cyclists, and school-going children have been circulating in the social media accounts of Kerala giving the government a big headache.
The state Local bodies minister also said that Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres will be opened in 152 local bodies of the state. This is to reduce the stray dog population in an incremental manner.
