Dog bite cases across India are often indiscriminately attributed to street dogs, but the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) wants to change that narrative.
Challenging the assumption that only stray dogs are responsible for attacks on children and the elderly, the AWBI has once again urged the government to start maintaining separate records for dog bite incidents, distinguishing between bites from street dogs and pet dogs. The move aims to correct a widespread data gap that may unfairly blame stray dogs for all bite incidents, despite cases involving pets.
ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD URGES HEALTH MINISTRY TO ACT
In a letter addressed to the Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Animal Husbandry Commissioner Abhijit Mitra of the AWBI has requested that all medical institutions be directed to categorise dog bite cases based on the type of dog involved.
“Separate records for street and pet dog bites must be maintained,” Mitra emphasised. “There are additional subcategories, as mentioned in earlier communications, which should also be referred to for proper classification.”
This is not the first appeal of its kind. A similar letter was sent in June 2023, yet little has changed on the ground. Dog bite data continues to be lumped together without specifying the source of the bite.
STREET DOGS GETTING A BAD NAME?
In a conversation with India Today’s sister channel Kisan Tak, Mitra pointed out that the lack of categorisation means all dog bite cases are currently being recorded as attacks by street dogs. For example, Delhi recorded over 1.27 lakh dog bite cases between 2018 and early 2023, while Mumbai saw 3.53 lakh cases between 2018 and 2022.
“Clearly, not all of these involve street dogs,” Mitra said, “but in the absence of separate data, pet dog incidents are also added to their account.”
WHY SEPARATE DATA MATTERS
According to Abhijit Mitra, if records of pet and street dog bite cases are kept separately, it will have many benefits. For example, it will clearly show which cities or states have the highest number of cases. This will help in organising targeted vaccination and awareness programs across the country. Moreover, once the data is available, perceptions about pet and street dogs will become clearer. The responsibility and accountability of pet dog owners will also be strengthened.
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Inputs from Nasir Hussain