Desk Report:
The increasing number of dog bites in Uttar Pradesh has created panic among the people. To deal with this situation, the state government has introduced new rules to control stray dogs. According to the new rules, if a dog bites someone, it will be kept in a kind of ‘jail’ for 10 days for the first time. However, if this incident happens more than once, it will be permanently detained.
According to the news of the Indian media Times of India, the government of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has issued a special instruction regarding stray dogs. It says that if a dog bites a person without provocation, it will be detained for 10 days and observed in an animal shelter. After that, if necessary, it will be sterilized, microchipped and released back to its previous area.
However, dogs that behave the same way more than once will be permanently detained in an animal shelter. They will be released only if someone adopts them. The adoption will be conditional on submitting an affidavit, promising to take care of the animal for life and not abandon it under any circumstances.
Dr. Vijay Amritraj, Veterinary and Animal Welfare Officer of the Prayagraj Municipal Corporation in Uttar Pradesh, said the new rules aim to differentiate between genuine aggression and provoked attacks. He said, “A three-member committee will be formed to investigate whether a bite was provoked or not. It will include a veterinarian, an animal behaviorist and a representative of the municipality. If someone repeatedly provokes a dog to bite, action will also be taken against him.”
In cases where the dog’s aggressive behavior is due to stress or provocation, the authorities said there will be a system of behavioral correction training for them. The directive, signed by the state’s Chief Secretary Amrit Abhijat on September 10, is mainly part of an initiative to reduce the increasing number of stray dog bites in urban areas.
The move comes after a recent Supreme Court directive asking states to address the problem of stray dogs in a humane but effective way. Officials say the new policy strikes a balance between public safety and animal welfare. However, the success of the policy will depend on strict implementation and cooperation from locals, as dog bites are on the rise.
