Sir,

In recent times, almost every news channel has been highlighting the stray dog menace from every nook and corner of the State. I have been watching disturbing visuals of stray dogs attacking children while playing, knocking down scooterists, chasing morning walkers, and even attacking pedestrians on the streets.

What surprises me the most is the silence of authorities — whether it is Mysuru City Corporation, Municipality or Gram Panchayat. Their inaction reflects an apathetic & callous attitude. As a result, innocent people, especially children, continue to suffer, with some incidents leading to severe casualties.

The Government of Karnataka must take proactive measures to curb the stray dog menace. Authorities should allocate sufficient funds, conduct ward-wise surveys to count the street dog population, deploy dog catchers and veterinarians to handle aggressive dogs, and carry out mass vaccination drives.

Enforcement of rules against illegal breeding and abandonment must be strengthened. There is also a dire need for a dedicated emergency helpline, large-scale sterilisation through ABC (Animal Birth Control) programmes and proper                           sheltering facilities.

The Government should also impose strict penalties on street food vendors, especially those feeding non-vegetarian waste to stray dogs, as this practice often makes the animals more ferocious. Alongside, there should be animal welfare programmes, effective animal control policies, permanent shelters for aggressive dogs, neutering initiatives and efforts to encourage responsible pet ownership.

I appeal to the authorities to launch a long-term, sustainable programme to effectively tackle the stray dog menace across the State.

—Arun Kumar

Chamarajapuram

28.8.2025