Waking up to the increasing incidence of culling dogs in rural areas, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department has directed all gram panchayats in the State to stop the practice immediately or face penal action.
Instead, it is mandatory for gram panchayats to follow the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules 2001, framed by the Centre, which are in line with the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Animal Birth Control programme. The department issued a circular in this regard in January.
Under the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, street dogs are to be sterilised, vaccinated, and subsequently released into the same area from where they were captured.
These rules also require sick dogs to be treated prior to their sterilisation and vaccination. Incurably ill or mortally wounded dogs can be put to sleep, but only in a humane manner. Sources said that owing to an increase in attacks of stray dogs on people and cattle, there is pressure on gram panchayats to tackle the issue. “They are forced to take such drastic steps,” sources said.
According to the 19th Livestock Census, 2012, the total dog population in the State is 12,75,122 (94,181 male and 3,33,641 female canines).
Dakshina Kannada has the highest number of dogs (1,46,510) followed by Bengaluru Urban (1,27,120). This year, from January to March, one death and as many as 52,310 dog bites have been reported, according to the State Health and Family Welfare Department’s Status Report on Communicable Diseases in Karnataka.
RDPR Director M.K. Kempe Gowda told The Hindu that the department had noticed that in some gram panchayats, dogs were being poisoned to death and buried.
“One such incident was reported from Belagutti village in Davangere district in November where 150 stray dogs were poisoned to death and hastily buried. The Belagutti Gram Panchayat had been accused of carrying out this gruesome act and an FIR has also been lodged. We issued the circular as most gram panchayats are not aware about the rules,” he said.
In 2015, the Supreme Court had ordered all State governments to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program to control the street dog population.
The Constitution of India gives precedence to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001, over State and local laws, he said.
Shiela Rao, president of Compassion Unlimited Plus Action (CUPA), who welcomed the circular, said it was not just enough to issue a circular. “The department should ensure that gram panchayats should implement ABC in a planned manner,” she added.
