(IN): Man’s proverbial best friend, it seems, has ceased to be so

July 28, 2009

*Stray terror in Bokaro*

- 46 dog bite cases in two months, residents seek action SHASHANK SHEKHAR

*Bokaro, July 27: *Man’s proverbial best friend, it seems, has ceased to be

so.

A pack of strays has unleashed terror in Bokaro and adjoining areas of Chas,

Jaina More, Balidih, Chandankyari and Bermo. Residents say the dogs not just

bark at every passing vehicle, but also chase pedestrians, making travelling

on roads a nightmare, particularly after dusk.

Government hospital records show around 46 dog bite cases in the past two

months. A teacher of a premier school and her husband were the most recent

victims of canines.

R. Singh, a resident of Chas, was attacked last week while she and her

husband were returning home. “It was 10pm. We were on our bike when some

strays started chasing us without the slightest provocation. And then, one

of them sank its teeth on my husband’s leg,” Singh said.

Bokaro residents claimed that the burgeoning stray population had become a

nuisance. Canine attacks were not restricted to any time of the day, they

said, urging the district administration to act.

Sources at the civil surgeon’s office said everyday dozens flock hospitals

for anti-rabies injections, which are in short supply and, thus, very

expensive. A single anti-rabies vaccine costs between Rs 300 and Rs 700.

Three years ago, then Chas Municipality chairman R.K. Gupta had sent a

proposal to Ranchi, seeking permission for mass sterilisation of strays to

control their population. The civic body had also planned to feed strays

with *rasogolla*s laced with medicines that would have sterilised them.

However, the proposed drive didn’t take off.

Bokaro civil surgeon Pramod Kumar admitted the stray menace was on the rise.

He said he had already written to Ranchi and the district animal husbandry

officers. “We have asked the animal husbandry department and civic officials

to find out ways to stop stray attacks,” he said.

Senior vet Dr R. Prasad said canines were prone to chasing — and sometimes

even attacking — speeding vehicles or people who walked briskly. “Animals

feel they will be attacked whenever they see moving vehicles. They chase for

self-defence,” he said.

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