Punjab child rights commission orders census and sterilisation of stray dogs

CHANDIGARH: Taking serious note of the rising incidents of stray dog attacks on children, Kanwardeep Singh, chairman of Punjab state commission for protection of child rights, directed the local government and rural development departments to conduct a census of stray dogs across all cities. He also urged the immediate sterilisation of stray dogs to prevent further incidents.
The chairman stated that reports of stray dog attacks on children were brought to the commission's attention through media sources. Expressing deep concern over these incidents, the commission took suo-motu notice of the matter.
The chairman cited media reports that revealed alarming cases, including the tragic deaths of two children within a week in Hasanpur village near Ludhiana due to stray dog attacks. Similar incidents were reported in other parts of Punjab, including Mohali, Zirakpur, Amritsar, Machhiwara, and Nabha, raising significant public concern.
He further informed that he wrote to the administrative secretaries of the Punjab local government department and the rural development and panchayat department, urging them to implement the provisions of the animal birth control rules, 2023. These rules, notified by the ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying on March 10, 2023, aim to control the stray dog population. The chairman emphasised that timely implementation of these rules is essential to prevent further attacks on children.