Hyderabad City has been grappling with the stray dogs problem. Since the start of 2019 up until now, 54 people have lost their lives in Hyderabad due to rabies infection.

This year, an average of about 70 people are bitten by dogs daily, and two rabies-associated deaths are reported each month. Over the years, the number of dog bites has been rising. A total of 19,847 cases were reported in 2022. In 2023, the number of cases rose to 26,349 and from January to mid-April this year, 9,208 incidents of dog bites have been reported.

As per the data from the government's fever hospital in the first few months of this year, there have been eight rabies deaths reported. The Superintendent of Fever Hospital Dr. K Shankar underlined a disconcerting lack of awareness concerning the severity of dog bites and the crucial necessity for anti-rabies vaccination.

The stray dog population in the city is calculated to be around 400,000, with approximately 90,000 dogs not yet sterilized. According to veterinary officials, sterilized dogs can become aggressive due to thirst and hunger. The GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) and various NGOs have taken several actions to handle this issue. To hydrate the stray dogs they have placed 4,800 water bottles across the city. As per a veterinary official, to capture, and sterilize unsterilized dogs 50 dog-catching teams are working in 3 shifts. Due to their efforts, the stray dog population reduced notably from 7.5 lakh in 2007 to 3.97 lakh in 2024.

 (Input from various sources)

 (Rehash/Lavanya Beeraboina/MSM)