Dog bite incidents on the rise in Rawalpindi

Local administration fails to control population of stray dogs

RAWALPINDI:

The number of stray dogs has increased in the limits of the Metropolitan Municipal Corporation (MMC) and Cantonment areas, leading to the rising incidents of dog bites in the city.

The administration has failed to cope with this serious issue and constantly failing to control it. A large number of dogs roam around the Butchers shops, chicken shops and catering shops besides a flock of dogs outside the wedding halls across the city.

After the sunset, herds of dogs roam on the streets, bazaars and roads.

Regular dog-killing campaigns were earlier carried out in the Rawalpindi district by the municipal corporation and the Cantonment board administration.

Regular funds used to be allocated in the budget for dog killing campaigns and regular dog and rat killing sections and teams were formed.

While at the beginning of the year 2000, gun shootings were declared illegal and killing dogs was allowed to be mixed with food poisoning but gradually this method of dog-killing was also abolished, which has led to a proliferation of dogs in the city and Cantonment areas.

Dogs and their puppies often found dead in car crashes cause the spreading of stench and diseases in the city.

Now for the last 20 years, not only the dog-killing campaign had been abandoned by the municipal corporation, but also the allocation of funds in this regard has been stopped.

In Rawalpindi, Dhok Elahi Bakhsh, Arya Mohalla, Naya Mohalla, Chatian Hatian, Pul Shah Nazar, Jamia Masjid Road, Bani Mohalla, Sadiqabad, Magistrate Colony, Dhok Khabba, Millat Colony, Rata Amral, Dhok. Huso, Pir Wadhai, Dhok Kala Khan, Gawalmandi, Ganjmandi, Fish Market, Barbecue Stall, Hotels, Food Street, Saddar Chhota Bazaar, Chak Bazaar and Tinch Bhata have become stray dog breeding centres.

The streets of these areas are crowded with dogs. These stray dogs sleep in the day on empty plots, in corners, under parked cars, and come to the street, markets and roads with the sunset.

The incidents of dog bites are on the rise due to the lack of stray dog killing campaigns. Vaccines and injections for dog and snake bites have also been discontinued at the allied hospitals and the district headquarters hospital.

According to the district hospital administration, limited dog bite injections are provided which expire in three to four months and in case of a dog bite, the patient has to order a dog bite injection from the open market.

The allied hospital management said that a total of 670 cases of dog bites were brought to the hospital last year, while 31 dog bite patients were brought in the first month of the new year 2022.

The administrator of the municipality said that soon a campaign will be launched this year to eradicate stray dogs from all over the city.

Hamid Ali Shah from Naya Mohalla said that “in two days, three persons, two children and a woman were bitten by a dog. They were taken to the district hospital (DHQ) but no injections were available in the hospital. Where can citizens go if there is no free injection?” he added

The citizens have demanded the government that a regular culling campaign be launched to rid the city of stray dogs and to make the streets of the neighbourhood safe for the children.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2022.