FROM A REPORTER
SHILLONG, Sept 25: The increase in the number of stray dogs in the city has created a huge threat to the local residents since as per the data provided by the Pasture Institute, Shillong, revealed that there had been around 25, 447 cases of dog bites reported between 2010 till June 2016. This year alone the number of dog bite cases inflicted by stray dogs has toughed 332 cases and 416 cases of rabid dog bites and statistics of rabid dog bite cases from 2010-15 stands at an alarming 3805 cases and 2511 cases of stray dog bites were reported.
There is, however, a decrease in the number of pet dog bite cases in 2016 with only 1742 cases reported as compared with 3164 cases reported in 2015.
The data and statistics from the Institute further revealed that since 2010-15, about 12, 827 cases of dog bites against students have been reported and this year until June 2016 there had been 1434 cases and 1063 cases of dog bite reported against children. Concerned over the indifferent attitude of the state government over the mece of stray dogs in and around the city, John S. Sohtun, secretary of Meghalaya Stray Dogs Welfare Organisation (MSDWO), while speaking to The Sentinel said, “We have approached the government on several occasions to highlight the danger arising out of the increasing number of strays in and around the city, however till today not much has been done by the government to tackle the mece.”
Pointing out the non-seriousness of the state government to take up this issue seriously, he informed that till date the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) does not have any shelter houses for stray animals, only two dog catchers and one vehicle to respond to cases across the city. In this connection, Sohtun said, “We have approached the Dorbar Raid of Laban requesting them to allot 3000 sq.ft of land to our organisation to construct a shelter home for animals but they have informed us that the matter will be first taken up at a Dorbar Raid meeting before taking any decision.”
As per the information furnished from SMB the number of registered dogs from 2010-15 is 451, the highest number of dogs registered was in 2011 with 133 and the lowest registration of dogs recorded was in 2014 with 7 and in 2016 till date with also 7. “We have approached SMB officials requesting them to immediately set up a shelter home for stray animals in the city but they have not taken any steps citing fincial crisis,” he said. Informing that the Supreme Court of India had directed various states in the country to sterilize stray dogs, he said “It seems that our government is not aware of this directive.”