Pets Can Bite Too!

It's not just community animals that can pose a threat to society but pets, too, if they're provoked or perhaps in a bad mood. Prevention is better than cure. Know the laws, be safe!

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Did you know that every six out of a 1000 Indians suffer a dog bite once in their life? You happen to see a dog on a leash, tag in place, walking with its parent like on any other normal day, when suddenly it pounces on you and attacks. What do you do? How are you protected by law? What does a pet parent do? What are the charges he could face? What will happen to the pet? We must be prepared for any situation, especially one that concerns our pets, for enough is said and done regarding community animals, but not home bodies.

Which is why the laws that govern pet parenting must be firmly in place and amended from time to time to suit changing needs and scenarios in the cities, with so much urbanisation taking place. Public spaces are getting smaller and the population is increasing, construction is the name of the game and pollution is part of the very air we breathe. Global warming is the final straw that contributes to a compromised state of living the world over. Warmer weather, higher tempers and violent outbursts, all this and more can foster a hostile environment for pets.

Dog attacks of late, in public spaces, have begun to spark a debate over the safety of people. Research has revealed that there has been a significant rise in pet dog bite cases from 2022-2024 and most in the summer months, from March to June. In Jan this year, a horrific attack of a four-year-old girl in Burari, Central Delhi, by a Pitbull, made national news for it left the child with severe injuries including fractures. Prior to that, a five-year-old girl suffered a blow to the head when she fell after two pet Rottweiler dogs pounced on her at a public park in Chennai. Yet another incident revealed an attack on a 10-year-old girl in Bombay, by a German Shepherd who belonged to a neighbour, who required a major operation to stitch her back to shape.