Residents’ body demands compensation for dog bites in Noida

Noida: Angry and scared over stray dog bites, a residents’ body has demanded compensation from the Noida authority alleging that it “failed to take care of city’s stray”

Noida: Angry and scared over stray dog bites, a residents’ body has demanded compensation from the Noida authority alleging that it “failed to take care of city’s stray”.

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The stray dog menace is one of the major issues in the city. Rules prevent them from being relocated except temporarily in case of medical treatment, including sterilisation. Authority officials say they have “no data” on the number of incidents of dog bites, the residents’ body has estimated it at over 300 a month.

“We are afraid to take a stroll on the roads and even in parks these days. Children, older citizens, cyclists, all have been at some point or the other chased or have suffered a bite from a stray animal. Yesterday, a little girl was bitten near our society. This cannot go on. Our patience is wearing thin. Since the authority is unable to control this menace, we demand that it pay ₹10,000 to every victim of a dog bite and offer treatment at a hospital of its choice. We will write to the authority demanding the same,” said Rajiva Singh, president of the Noida Federation of Apartment Owners Associations (NOFAA).

He said that while officials claim that neutering or sterilising a stray dog is the only solution , “the same is not systematic”.

“This is one of the major issues of the city as on daily basis we see or hear of a dog bite incident. Yesterday, a vegetable vendor was bitten by a street dog outside our high-rise. It should be dealt with on an urgent basis,” said Amit Gupta, a social activist and resident of Sector 77.

According to the officials, their sterilisation programme will resume soon.

“The sterilisation was stopped in March as a contract we had with a private agency expired. We have issued a fresh tender and the process will be completed in a few days. The aim will be to sterilise 1,500 dogs a month. We understand that this is the only way forward to control the problem,” said SC Mishra, project engineer (health), Noida authority,

He said the programme had sterilised over 30,000 dogs in the past two years.

“Both male and female dogs are sterilised so that they can’t reproduce. For this the operations are held at our Animal centre at sector 94. Over 30,000 dogs has been sterilised so far since 2019,” Mishra added.

According to people engaged in animal welfare, some bites are “inevitable” and often due to “aggression towards the animal”.“An aggressive dog can be dealt with through proper training and treatment,” said Sanjay Mahapatra, founder of house of stray animal.