10,067 dog bite cases recorded in city last year

Gurgaon: The city recorded 10,067 cases of dog bites last year, multiple times higher than the previous years — an increase that experts blame on the lack of sterilisation drives to control the population of stray canines. These 10,067 cases would approximately translate into around 27 dog bites a day, and over 1 case an hour. According to data by the health department, 5,259 dog bite cases were recorded in 2023, 3,464 in 2022, and 2,612 in 2021. Doctors at govt hospitals said on Thursday they get 10-12 cases of dog bites in the emergency ward every day. "Most patients are children, but there are adults too," said a doctor of Civil Hospital in Sector 10. Dr RR Dutta, who heads the internal medicine department at Paras Health Hospital, said first aid was critical after any dog bite. "If bitten, immediate first aid is crucial. Start by stopping the bleeding with direct pressure using a clean cloth. Once the bleeding is controlled, wash your hands thoroughly and clean the wound with soap and warm water, flushing it for about five minutes. Cover the area with a clean, dry dressing. If there is a laceration, seek medical care within 24 hours. Since stray dogs often have unknown vaccination histories, post-exposure rabies treatment may be required. Public awareness on how to interact with stray dogs and responsible feeding can help curb the rise in such incidents," he said. Gurgaon's chief medical officer Dr Virender Yadav said there were "sufficient" anti-rabies vaccines in district healthcare facilities. "We also have wound washing areas in all govt health establishments," he said. Experts said the only way to mitigate dog bite cases was to sterilise community dogs. Though MCG does not have an official count of stray dogs in the city, activists estimate there are at least 75,000 in the city. "The agencies that MCG hired to carry out ABC (animal birth control) programmes are not recognised, so nothing is being implemented on the ground," said Chetna Joshi, member of the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). The population of street dogs has risen since 2020 due to insufficient support to the agencies for the programme, and lack of awareness about the issue, she said. Asked about the problem, MCG chief medical officer Ashish Singla said the corporation is holding meetings with RWAs to discuss the issue. "MCG already has two agencies, which sterilise 300 to 400 dogs in a month. This number is set to increase since we will establish two more animal birth control (ABC) centres," Singla said. Sangeeta Shah, an animal activist and a dog feeder, said the sterilisation programmes were erratic. "Stray dog populations have continued to rise, posing a significant threat to both human and animal safety," Shah said. Residents said conflicts over the issue weren't uncommon. "There is constant tension in the neighbourhood. The absence of robust sterilisation efforts has exacerbated the situation, making it increasingly difficult for residents to feel safe. Every day, the struggle for space and safety intensifies," said Harish Sharma, who lives in Sector 71.