Indian Express | March 21, 2023
The conflict between people and stray dogs in India has crossed the threshold of tolerance. While cases of young children being mauled to death by packs of dogs are in the news now, this phenomenon is not new. Over the last five years, more than 300 people — mostly children from poor and rural families — have been killed by dogs. Worse still, dogs are responsible for over 20,000 rabies deaths. A 2017 study showed that homeless dogs in rural areas can also be devastating for wildlife. Over 80 species, of which more than 30 are on the endangered list, were targeted by dogs in wilderness areas. This mounting evidence points to a failure on the part of the government to implement policies that are both practical and humane to dogs, people, and wildlife.
