Who let the dogs out?

On average, 156 dog bites cases were reported daily in 2020, which have gone up to 186 cases per day

Dog bite cases in the city have seen a steady rise after the relaxation of the restrictions. data by BMC's health department has revealed. Dog bite cases that had dropped to 57,016 in 2020 are again going up and nearing pre-Covid numbers, it shows. The year 2021 saw around 67,993 dog bite cases in Mumbai, which is a 19 per cent rise compared to the previous year. NGOs working with the civic body have warned that as the movement of people has increased post relaxations there will be more dog bite instances in the city. On average, 156 dog bites cases were reported daily in 2020, which have gone up to 186 a day.

"As the movement of people was restricted in 2020, dog bite cases decreased drastically. But, in 2021, after the second wave, the unlocking began and the movement of people increased. They came in contact with dogs more than in the previous year. The same trend is witnessed in diseases, too," said Dr Mangala Gomare, executive health official, BMC. Many NGOs working with BMC pointed out that more effort is needed in the animal birth control programme (ABC).

Advocate Dagadu Londhe, president of Utkarsh Star Mitra Mandal, an NGO involved in sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination, said, "There are a few reasons why dogs attack humans. Firstly, if a female dog has delivered pups, she feels insecure about people being near them. So she attacks. Another reason is when people tease or beat them. Sometimes, dogs don't get food or water, and the hunger and thirst may cause them to bark and bite. To reduce dog bite cases, BMC has to increase emphasis on the Animal Birth Programme (ABC). The uncontrolled population will directly lead to more dog bite cases."

In the past five years, Mumbai has reported 3,98,623 dog bite cases. Consultant physician of Bombay Hospital Dr Gautam Bhansali said, "There is a clear guideline that if someone is bitten by a dog, we have to assess how grievous the injury is. After assessing the injury, we come to know whether it is grade 1 (scratch), 2, or 3 (bleeding or deep injury). People should immediately go to the nearest hospital for anti-rabies vaccinations. If you don't take the vaccine, then you might land in trouble. If the disease advances in the future then there is no treatment available, and it may lead to death."

Dr Mayur Dangar of BSPCA, an NGO working for pets, said, "Though the number of pet lovers is increasing, there is still a lack of social awareness on how to treat strays. If we can't feed them, at least don't beat or tease them. Sometimes they don't get food, which angers them. There are other reasons which may lead to human-dog conflict."

3,98,623
Number of dog bites cases recorded in Mumbai in past 5 years