Stray canines stalk Karachi's children

300 dog-bite cases reported in first five days of 2026, most victims aged two or below

KARACHI:

As many as 300 dog-bite cases were reported at the Indus Hospital in Korangi during the first five days of the New Year, highlighting a worrying surge in attacks by stray canines in several neighbourhoods of the metropolis.

The figures were shared by Aftab Gauhar, Manager of the Rabies Prevention Clinic at Indus Hospital, while speaking to The Express Tribune.

The hospital shared images of children mauled by stray dogs. Faces disfigured for life, eyes damaged, lips torn away, the pictures were too graphic to go in print. He said a visible increase in stray dog attacks has been recorded in areas including Korangi, Landhi, Baldia, Hub Chowki and Gadap Town.

According to Gauhar, the majority of victims were children under the age of two, many of whom sustained severe facial injuries as a result of the attacks. He also cited a case in which a 41-year-old man lost a finger after being bitten by a stray dog.

He said all victims were provided timely post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) vaccines to prevent rabies. Stressing the seriousness of the disease, Gauhar warned that rabies is almost always fatal if not treated imminently.

He advised that in the event of a dog bite, the affected area should be immediately washed thoroughly under running tap water with soap for at least 10 to 15 minutes, followed by immediate medical consultation and vaccination to reduce the risk of infection.

Harsh decisions awaited

Meanwhile in a recent interaction with the media, Mayor Murtaza Wahab had said that while one group opposed the culling of stray dogs, public safety concerns could not be ignored. He said the Sindh government had introduced a dog neutering policy at the request of animal lovers, but it did not deliver the desired results. "Whatever decision the City Council takes regarding stray dogs will be implemented," he added.

Separately, adressing a recent meeting on Rabies Control Programme Sindh (RCPS) Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah said protecting human lives from rabies is a top priority of the Sindh government. He had directed relevant departments to accelerate vaccination and sterilisation efforts, ensure effective functioning and upgradation of rabies centres, and strengthen public awareness campaigns.

However, whether a dog is vaccinated or not, the bite is painful. To control the population, the municipal authorities used to cull stray dogs. However, on strong resistance by animal rights activists, a project to sterilise and vaccinate the stray dogs was launched.

Ironically, having spent millions of rupees, only 19,449 stray dogs had been sterilised and 30,729 vaccinated across various districts of Sindh.

The total cost of the project is Rs963.316 million, of which Rs302.988 million (31.4 per cent) had been utilised by October 31, 2025. Per these figures the government spent more than Rs6,000 per dog to sterilise and vaccinate 50718 dogs.

For the financial year 2025-26, Rs265.02 million has been allocated, with Rs66.255 million already released. The project timeline has been extended until June 2026.