2 hrs ago
Bhiwandi Dog-Bite Cases Spur Scrutiny of Sterilisation Programme
About 32 people in Kamatghar, Bhiwandi, were treated after dog bites on Sunday.
Two of the injured people were children.
Doctors said the children had serious Category III bites.
Reports said one dog may have attacked all 32 people, but this was not confirmed.
Bhiwandi recorded 3,292 dog-bite cases between April and July.
The city has more than 24,000 stray dogs.
A programme is sterilising and vaccinating some of these dogs to help control their population.
An animal lover said some dogs may not receive enough care after surgery.
The civic body said dogs are kept under observation and returned to the same place after treatment.
Around 32 people in Kamatghar were treated at IGM Sub-District Hospital after reported dog-bite incidents on Sunday.
Two children with Category III dog-bite injuries were admitted to the paediatric ward, hospital officials said.
Bhiwandi recorded 3,292 dog-bite cases from April through July, with April reporting the most cases at 1,087.
The city has more than 24,000 stray dogs, while civic estimates say 7,000-8,000 have been sterilised and vaccinated.
An animal lover raised concerns about post-operative care, while the civic body said dogs are observed and returned to their original locations after about a week.
- Who
- Around 32 people, including two children, were treated; the Bhiwandi-Nizampur Municipal Corporation and animal-welfare representatives are involved in the wider issue.
- What
- A cluster of dog-bite injuries in Kamatghar has renewed scrutiny of Bhiwandi’s stray-dog population, sterilisation programme and animal care.
- Where
- Kamatghar and IGM Sub-District Hospital in Bhiwandi.
- When
- The hospital admissions occurred on Sunday; 3,292 cases were recorded from April through July, and the ABC centre restarted on 11 November 2024.
- Why
- The incident drew attention to the number of stray dogs, the pace of sterilisation and the adequacy of post-operative care.
Animal-welfare concerns
Civic-body response
Post-operative care
Animal-welfare concerns
Animal lover Dipti Deshmukh alleged that some dogs are released before their wounds heal, may not receive timely food or treatment, and may have died after sterilisation. The allegations were not independently verified.
Civic-body response
Assistant Commissioner Faisal Tatli said dogs are kept under observation after the procedure and released after around a week.
Release locations
Animal-welfare concerns
Deshmukh alleged that dogs collected from one locality are sometimes released in another area.
Civic-body response
Tatli said sterilised dogs are released at the same location from which they were picked up.
Programme capacity
Animal-welfare concerns
The number of untreated stray dogs and the 3,292 dog-bite cases have prompted questions about whether the sterilisation programme is moving quickly enough and has adequate capacity.
Civic-body response
The civic administration has restarted the ABC centre, sterilised and vaccinated an estimated 7,000-8,000 dogs, and said the city has more than 24,000 stray dogs remaining.
Key facts
- People treated
- Around 32 people
- Children admitted
- Two children, both reported to have Category III dog bites
- Dog-bite cases
- 3,292 recorded in Bhiwandi from April through July
- Monthly peak
- April, with 1,087 cases
- Stray-dog population
- More than 24,000
- Sterilised and vaccinated
- Approximately 7,000-8,000 dogs
- Sterilisation cost
- Around Rs 1,440 per dog
Sources
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