Residents ofGujaratsuffer the fourth highest number of stray dog bites in the country. Only Nadu, Maharashtra and West Bengal have more bites. The number of dog bites in the state fell by 55.4% in 2021, compared to 2020.
The Union ministry of Fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying had tabled the data on stray dog bites in reply to a question fromA M Ariff, the MP from Alappuzha in Kerala. Ariff sought to know whether attacks on humans and other domestic animals by stray dogs are increasing in the country. He also asked if the government has taken any steps to recognize organizations undertaking sterilization of dogs across the country.
The reply stated that there has been a consistent decline in stray dog bites in the Gujarat. From 4.8 lakh bites in the state in 2019, the number fell to 1.92 lakh in 2021. From January 1 to July 22, 2022, this number was just 5,459.
The data tabled shows across India, bites by stray dogs have reduced to 17.01 lakh in 2021 from 72.78 lakh in 2019. However, from January 1 to July 22, 2022, there have been 14.5 lakh bites reported.