Stray Dog Menace Quite Big in State

Dog sterilization and vaccination efforts need to be accelerated to ensure public safety

- BANDHAVI ANNAM @Guntur

The Supreme Court's recent directions on regulating street dogs have once again brought the stray dog menace into the spotlight. In Andhra Pradesh, the challenge is acute, with official data, rising dog bite cases, and patchy sterilization efforts underscoring the seriousness of the problem.

As per the 2019 Livestock Census, AP had 8.64 lakh dogs, with 4.72 lakh being strays. Although the 2024 Livestock Census data is still pending Government of India approval, preliminary estimates indicate a substantial increase in the dog population since 2019.

Though the government has launched the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination Programmes, implementation has lagged behind the need. The sterilization rate remains far too low to curb the growth of the dog population, and residents say the situation has worsened in recent years with the incidents of dog attacks on the rise in the State.

The situation in most Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) is similar, with limited infrastructure, inadequate funds, and a shortage of trained staff hindering the sterilization drive. Despite official claims, the impact on the ground remains minimal, fueling public frustration.