In Visakhapatnam, a surge in dog attack incidents has instilled fear and unease among residents in recent months. Despite the municipal corporation's efforts to sterilize strays through its Animal Birth Control program, doubts linger regarding its effectiveness.

B. Madhu Gopal delves into the delicate equilibrium between ensuring public safety and safeguarding the welfare of the city's stray dog population.

The Vadlapudi area of Visakhapatnam witnessed a harrowing incident on March 4, as four children playing on the streets fell victim to a stray dog attack. They received treatment at the local primary health center.

Similarly, last September, a three-year-old boy faced an onslaught from a pack of strays at a construction site in VUDA Nagar, near Duvvada. His parents intervened swiftly, rescuing him from potential life-threatening injuries. Prompt medical attention, including immunoglobulin injections and anti-rabies vaccinations, saved his life.

These distressing events have revived concerns and frustrations among residents, prompting reflections on the transformation of man's best friend into a perceived threat. Once cherished as loyal companions, dogs now evoke fear and suspicion due to the increasing frequency of bite incidents and attacks nationwide.

The severity of the issue manifests in the rising cases of rabies. In 2023 alone, eight individuals admitted to the Government Hospital for Chest and Communicable Diseases (GHCCD) in Visakhapatnam lost their lives to dog attacks.

Alarmingly, within the first quarter of the current year, the death toll has already reached five, underscoring a deepening public health crisis.

The Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) has undertaken extensive sterilization efforts, with an estimated 1.20 lakh dogs residing across its 98 wards.

According to GVMC Veterinary Officer N. Kishore, nearly 98,834 dogs have undergone sterilization over the past three years under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program. Post-surgery, these dogs receive ear tags as identification, irrespective of gender, as per protocol.

However, despite these efforts, the persistence of dog-related incidents indicates ongoing challenges in managing the stray population and ensuring public safety.

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