Kochi: The rising stray dog population has become a serious public safety concern across Ernakulam district. Residents and civic representatives have flagged lapses in the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme and are calling for urgent intervention.
Reports of severe stray dog presence have emerged from municipalities, including Tripunithura, Thrikkakara, North Paravur, Maradu, and Aluva. Residents' groups and councillors say existing measures are wholly inadequate to contain the growing canine population. The issue gained sharp political traction following a stray dog attack in North Paravur last week, in which five people were injured. The incident quickly escalated into a controversy, with the opposition accusing the municipality of failing to effectively run the ABC programme.
Civic bodies are responsible for setting up and operating ABC facilities. Yet the district has only a handful of functional centres. According to the district animal welfare department, ABC centres exist in Kolencherry, Mulanthuruthy, Brahmapuram, and Tripunithura. However, the facilities in Kolencherry and Mulanthuruthy are not fully operational. The Brahmapuram centre continues to function but is severely constrained by a shortage of veterinary surgeons and trained dog catchers. A proposed centre in Thrikkakara is yet to become operational.
Corporation officials said a project is in progress to set up a shelter for around 500 stray dogs at Brahmapuram. "Preliminary works have begun," said an official associated with the project. In Tripunithura, residents say the stray dog problem remains one of the most pressing civic challenges, even though an ABC centre was launched there last year. They allege that delays in sterilisation and poor monitoring have allowed the population to keep rising.
"Dogs are everywhere. Civic inaction, compounded by some individuals feeding strays indiscriminately, is making the situation worse," said V P Prasad, chairman of the Tripunithura Rajanagari Union of Residents Association. Similar concerns have surfaced in Thrikkakara. Opposition leader C P Sajal said stray dog numbers have risen in recent months. "Dog bite cases are being reported regularly. We have demanded that the ABC project be completed without further delay," he said.
District animal husbandry officials cited structural challenges: The Aluva ABC centre remains non-functional due to local objections, while financial constraints hamper operations elsewhere. "Contract veterinarians leave for better opportunities, and sourcing trained dog catchers from distant locations drives up costs," an official said.
