23,373 People Bitten By Stray Dogs In City In Last 11 Months; PMC Proposes To Bear Medical Expenses

The increasing menace of stray dog bites in Pune has become a growing concern for residents. With numerous reports of attacks in residential areas, parks, and public spaces, the city’s stray dog population is on the rise, leading to heightened fears.

Recently, a 5-year-old boy was severely injured after being attacked by stray dogs in the Ambegaon Pathar area. The child, Samarth Suryawanshi, suffered serious injuries and is currently being treated at Bharati Hospital.

Following the incident, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) acted by capturing six dogs from the society. The civic body has also proposed to the standing committee to bear the expense of any dog-biting incidents, said the official.

Municipal Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale has directed that a detailed proposal be prepared and submitted to the standing committee.

Double fold rise in incidents since 2020

According to PMC records, in the past 11 months (till November), around 23,374 cases of dog bites have been recorded. The number of dog bite incidents in the city has increased over the last five years. In 2023, around 22,495 cases of dog bites were reported, in 2022 around 16,077 cases, in 2021, 15,972 cases, in 2020 the count was 12,734, and in 2019 only 12,252 cases of dog bites were reported.

There is no separate provision in the PMC budget for providing financial aid to residents who are attacked by stray dogs, but PMC Commissioner Rajendra Bhosale has decided to allocate funds in the upcoming financial year to provide medical facilities for victims of dog bites.

Dr. Sarika Funde, Chief Veterinary Officer of PMC, said, “The boy is now out of danger. We visited the location, captured the stray dogs, and ensured they were vaccinated and sterilized. Samples from the dogs involved in the incident were also sent to the lab for rabies testing. If any incident of dog biting and tree fall occurs in the future and the person receives severe injury, PMC will bear the cost, and the commissioner has asked to submit a proposal in this regard.”