Free-ranging dog issue of Kerala

Free-ranging dogs have become a public health issue in the state of Kerala in India. Two persons died from dog attacks in 2016, and many persons were injured. Efforts to control the population have created conflicts between Indian advocates of public safety and opponents of animal cruelty, and caused international backlash including calls for a boycott of tourism to Kerala.

Incidents

A large number of women and children have been attacked by stray dogs in the coastal belts of Kerala. According to a report submitted in the Supreme Court of India, more than hundred thousand people were attacked by stray dogs in the year of 2015-16. The stray dog population of Kerala is estimated to be about two hundred and fifty thousand. The growth in the number of free-ranging dogs is because of chicken waste dumped from restaurants all over the state without cleanliness. 5,948 people were bitten by street dogs in Thiruvananthapuram district last year and 4,916 people were affected in Palakkad district. The statistics are similar in the other 12 districts of Kerala.[1]

Arrest of social worker

In 2016, a social worker from Cochin called Jose Maveli was arrested for killing street dogs in large number.[2] It was reported that Maveli killed about 25 stray dogs in Chengamanad panchayath of Ernakulam district.[3] In December 2016, Jose Maveli was asked by the Supreme Court of India to appear before it.

Death in Varkala

In October, 2016, a 90-year-old man was killed in Varkala by the attack from a pack of street dogs. The old man was sleeping on the veranda of his house when a group of dogs attacked him.[4] The angry people killed more than 90 dogs in the locality on the following day of the old man's death.[5]

Stray Dog Free movement
Kochouseph Chittilappily, who leads a movement to control street dogs

Kochouseph Chittilappilly is the chairman of the Stray Dog Free movement, which advocates action against the risks allegedly posed by stray dogs in Kerala, including the amendment of legislation forbidding the killing of these dogs.[6] The movement has pointed to the danger of rabies and referred to stray dogs as a "menace".[7] Chittilappilly has staged hunger strikes to protest this legislation, and what he claims is governmental failure to address this issue.[8][9] He has stated that the government's actions amount to valuing stray dogs over human lives and property.[10] He has encouraged citizens to pressure the government to amend these laws, and to kill stray dogs themselves despite the accompanying 50-rupee fine.[7][11] Chittilappilly has been arrested under statutes preventing cruelty to animals after tying four stray dogs in front of a police station.[12]

Boycott Kerala Tourism campaign

Governmental plans to cull stray dogs have prompted an international campaign to "Boycott Kerala Tourism" in protest.[6][13][14] Opponents of the Stray Dog Free movement have argued that vaccination and spay/neuter campaigns are a more effective and humane method of controlling the stray dog population. Members of the Stray Dog Free movement have alleged that opposition is being funded by rabies vaccine manufacturers.[15]

Union government position

Union minister Menaka Gandhi has criticized the state government of Kerala for trying to kill stray dogs illegally.[16]

State government position

Kerala's minister K.T. Jaleel stated that the government will cull all the stray dogs before 2019 with the help of the local bodies. The chief minister of Kerala, however, did not support such a mass level of culling.[17][18]

References
  1. "Kerala: More than 100 stray dogs attack and kill 65-year-old woman". Firstpost. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  2. "Subsidised air guns: case against Jose Maveli". Thehindu.com. 9 October 2016. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  3. "Culling of stray dogs: Jose Maveli arrested". Mathrubhumi. 19 September 2016. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  4. "തെരുവുനായ ആക്രമണം: ചികിത്സയിലായിരുന്ന വൃദ്ധന്‍ മരിച്ചു". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  5. "വര്‍ക്കലയില്‍ തെരുവ് നായ്ക്കളെ കൂട്ടത്തോടെ കൊന്നു". Mathrubhumi. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  6. "Kerala's Leading Businessman Goes on Hunger Strike Against Street Dogs". NDTV.com. 26 October 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  7. "Chittilappilly Stages Fast Against Stray Dog Menace". The New Indian Express. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  8. "A day's strike to tackle stray menace". The Hindu. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  9. "Chittilappilly to stage hunger strike in T'puram". The Times of India. 7 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  10. Basheer, KPM (20 October 2015). "A dogged drive against stray dogs". The Hindu Business Line. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  11. "Chittilappilly launches hunger strike over stray dog menace". Mathrubhumi. 21 February 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  12. "Chittilappilly booked for cruelty against strays". The Times of India. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  13. Mohan, Neethu (14 July 2015). "Stray dogs culling: Boycott Kerala campaign gains momentum". www.oneindia.com. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  14. "How far will India's dog-lovers go to save strays?". BBC News. 10 August 2015. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  15. Ajeesh, A. (20 February 2016). "NGOs opposing culling of stray dogs financed by anti-rabies vaccine lobby: Collector Biju Prabhakar". Prokerala.
  16. Karindalam, Anirudha (21 August 2016). "'What has Kerala achieved by killing strays?'". theweek.in. Retrieved 19 September 2016.
  17. Sudhi, K. S. (28 August 2016). "It is a question that dogs beleaguered Kerala: to kill or not to kill". Thehindu.com. Retrieved 12 February 2019.
  18. "Kerala to cull violent stray dogs". The Indian Express. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 20 September 2016.
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