Stray dog menace spirals in Thrissur as attacks rise and control efforts stall

The stray dog menace in Thrissur has reached alarming proportions, with escalating attacks putting people, especially pedestrians, on edge. Packs of dogs roam the streets, chase passers-by, and engage in frequent fights, despite repeated complaints to authorities.

According to official records, Thrissur district reported 29,363 dog bite cases in 2024 alone.

The crisis turned shocking on Wednesday evening near the KSEB office at Kootala, when a stray dog entered a house and attacked 72-year-old Nirmala, severing a finger. Witnesses said she had been sitting on her veranda when the animal lunged at her, clamping its jaws on her left hand. Family members struggled to pry the dog loose, but not before it caused two fractures.

Nirmala was rushed to the Cherpu Family Health Centre for an initial anti-rabies vaccination, then referred to the General Hospital, Thrissur, and later to a private hospital for emergency surgery.

In a disturbing follow-up, the same dog is believed to have attacked a 15-year-old boy just minutes later at the family health centre’s emergency unit, injuring a nurse in the chaos. The animal has not been located, prompting warnings for residents to remain vigilant.

While the threat grows, efforts to expand Animal Birth Control (ABC) operations across Thrissur are mired in public opposition. Planned centres at Chalakudy, Vellangallur, and Wadakkanchery were scrapped after residents objected, citing fears of constant barking and foul odour.

District panchayat officials say an ABC facility needs at least 50 cents – or 25 cents in special cases – and they are prepared to purchase private plots if offered. Yet, community resistance remains a major hurdle.

At present, the only operational ABC centre under Thrissur Corporation is at Paravattani. Of the five new centres planned, construction has started at only two sites – Mala and Chavakkad – with the Chavakkad facility already complete.

As stray dog attacks mount and control measures stall, public health experts warn that without urgent action, Thrissur’s dog menace could spiral into a full-blown safety crisis.