The threat of stray dogs is rapidly increasing in India. In 2024, over 3.7 million people were victims of their attacks, including lakhs of children. The Supreme Court has ordered the capture of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and their placement in shelter homes to ensure public safety.
Dog Bite Cases: In the year 2024, 3,717,336 cases of stray dog bites were registered across the country, out of which 519,704 cases involved children under the age of 15. Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of cases. The Supreme Court has issued a strict order to capture stray dogs in Delhi, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Noida and send them to shelter homes, to save people's lives from increasing attacks and rabies infection.
Supreme Court Prioritizes Safety
The court stated in its order that the safety of citizens is paramount and no emotional arguments can be given priority in this matter. The court emphasized that the administration should take immediate action to prevent attacks by stray dogs and the diseases caused by them.
Shocking Figures for 2024
A report released by the Ministry of Animal Husbandry and Dairying stated that 3,717,336 cases of dog bites were registered across the country between January 2024 and December 2024. Approximately 2,195,122 of these cases came from rural areas. Notably, a large number of victims were children under the age of 15—a total of 519,704 children were victims of these attacks.
During the same period, 37 people died due to rabies infection. In most of these cases, lives were lost due to the lack of timely treatment or vaccination. However, lakhs of people who received the anti-rabies vaccine immediately after the dog bite were saved.
Which States Have the Most Cases?
Government data indicates that Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu recorded the highest number of dog bite cases in 2024.
- Maharashtra: 485,000+ cases
- Tamil Nadu: 480,000 cases
- Gujarat: 392,000 cases
- Karnataka: 361,000 cases
- Bihar: 263,000 cases
- Andhra Pradesh: 245,000 cases
- Assam: 166,000 cases
- Uttar Pradesh: 164,000 cases
- Rajasthan: 140,000 cases
- Delhi: 25,000+ cases
These figures clearly show that the problem is not limited to any one state but has become a national challenge.
Children and Women at Greater Risk
Experts say that children's height and their style of playing provoke dogs. Similarly, women often go out of the house in the morning and evening, when packs of dogs are most active. As a result, these two groups are more likely to be attacked.
Government Initiatives and Schemes
The National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) is being run under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Under this:
- States are provided with budgets for anti-rabies vaccines.
- Availability of vaccines is ensured at community health centers in every district, town, and village.
- Workshops and training programs are organized for the general public and health workers.
- Anti-rabies clinics are opened.
- Awareness campaigns are conducted towards a rabies-free India.
- Helpline numbers are issued to provide quick assistance.
Why is the Stray Dog Crisis Increasing?
Experts believe that there are several reasons behind this:
- Uncontrolled Piles of Garbage: Garbage scattered openly in cities and towns becomes an easy food source for stray dogs.
- Slow Pace of Sterilization Programs: Sterilization programs to control the stray dog population are either slow or non-existent in many places.
- Urbanization and Displacement: The natural habitat of dogs is being destroyed due to new colonies and construction work, causing them to move into populated areas.
