The mauling to death of an 11-year-old boy by street dogs at Muzhappilangad in Kannur on Sunday has brought back into focus the animal birth control (ABC) activities in the State including a massive vaccination drive as well as sterilisation drive that were taken up last year following increasing cases of stray dog attacks.
As per data from the Local Self-Government department and the Animal Husbandry department, which jointly carried out the drive, 4.7 lakh dogs, including 4.38 lakh pet dogs, were vaccinated from September 1 last year till Sunday.
From 2016 to August 31, 2022, a total of 79,859 stray dogs were sterilised, while 9,767 stray dogs were sterilised from September 1, 2022 to March 31 this year. Minister for LSGIs M.B. Rajesh said on Monday that stray dog attacks had reduced considerably following the drive launched in September last year, but some local bodies were lax in continuing with the operations.
