Canine troubles
Even though the Supreme Court has been acting quite tough over the issue of stray dogs making lives of the common man miserable, various state and UT governments have not been able to implement the measures suggested to curb the dog population and the increased attacks on humans.
Even today the figures that were provided by the government in Jammu and Kashmir during a discussion in the legislative assembly informed that more than two lakh dog bite cases were reported across the Union Territory in 2024 and 2025, with the Jammu district recording the highest number of over 1.26 lakh incidents.
Notably, 2,06,460 dog bite cases were reported in the Union Territory during the two-year period, including 93,765 cases in 2024 and 1,12,695 cases in 2025. In the Jammu division, 1,26,844 cases were recorded in 2024–25, with 54,863 cases in 2024 and 71,981 cases in 2025.
Kashmir division reported 79,616 cases during the same period, including 38,902 cases in 2024 and 40,714 cases in 2025. Srinagar recorded the highest number of cases at 35,174, followed by Baramulla with 12,882 and Anantnag with 10,818 cases, the minister said.
Ironically, 64,416 stray dogs are being reported in the jurisdiction of Srinagar Municipal Corporation alone and the figures elsewhere are yet to be put forth. These figures suggest that the canine problem is more than what it is perceived to be.
The stray dog menace has been one of the key concerns of municipal authorities across India. Various cities and towns where the presence of the stray dogs has increased to unmanageable levels have been reporting increased cases of dog bites and some ceases of rabies as well.
Ironically, over the last decade, the total number of dog and cat bites in the Valley has approached 70,000 cases, with a notable upward trend. It is quite surprising to know that the Valley’s lone hospital SMHS which operates an Anti-Rabies Clinic, receives around 50 animal bite cases daily, with most cases attributed to stray dogs.
In a place like Kashmir the huge increase in the number of dogs is a worrying development as all the efforts in adding Jammu and Kashmir into the list of clean and smart cities goes a waste as the increased number of stray dogs keep on scattering the waste around making life miserable for those who prefer to walk on the roads and streets.
The stray dogs across Kashmir are infected with several diseases as well which can prove to be catastrophic any time as it can lead to the outbreak of a major disease any time.
Since the SC has provided a solution to the issue, the administration here without wasting any time should implement the recommendations here as well so that the issue of increased canine presence can be tackled scientifically.
Primarily, the people’s participation in ending the menace is a prerequisite. People living in cities and elsewhere need to stop feeding the stray dogs directly or indirectly so that the canines do not stick around habitations and create a mess around.
The stray dog menace cannot be tackled by the administration alone, peoples co-operation too is of utmost importance.
