J&K Deploys Vets to Tackle Stray Dog Crisis After 2 Lakh Bites Reported
Jammu & Kashmir drafts vets to frontline against stray dogs as bites exceed 2 lakh in three years.
Jammu and Kashmir has drafted veterinary doctors into a frontline canine management plan to address the escalating stray dog problem, which has resulted in over 2.12 lakh dog bite cases in the past three years. The initiative expands the role of veterinary professionals beyond traditional duties to include sterilization, vaccination, and treatment of injured stray dogs.
The move follows a Supreme Court directive instructing all states and union territories to manage stray dogs at public places such as schools, hospitals, railway stations, and bus stands, and relocate them to designated shelters. J&K has appointed Deputy Secretary of the Jal Shakti Department, Suheel Ahmad Lone, as the nodal officer for stray dog management.
Under the new plan, veterinary assistant surgeons will lead the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program in coordination with district administrations and local bodies. Dr. Sheikh Younis, Director of Animal Husbandry, said vets would receive specialized training in sterilization and allied activities to implement standard operating procedures effectively.
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Logistical support will be provided to vets to help them carry out these expanded duties alongside their existing responsibilities. Experts cited the sharp rise in dog bite cases—1.14 lakh in Kashmir and 98,000 in Jammu between 2022 and 2025—as a primary reason for the new strategy, noting that only 49,000 stray dogs had been sterilized and vaccinated in urban areas during this period.
In addition to medical interventions, the government is focusing on area containment to prevent canine intrusion. Dr. Rafiq Ahmad Shah, Director of Sheep Husbandry, highlighted measures such as raising boundary walls at sheep farms and creating pits for carcass disposal to discourage stray dogs from entering populated or livestock areas.
Officials emphasize that the approach will be multi-pronged, combining veterinary care, relocation to shelters, and infrastructural measures to ensure long-term control of the stray dog population. The strategy is aimed at improving public safety and reducing incidents of dog bites while complying with the Supreme Court’s guidelines.
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