The growing population of stray dogs in villages and town panchayats on the outskirts of Erode has become a source of concern for residents, who say packs of dogs frequently bark at and chase motorists and pedestrians.

Residents have sought the implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme in rural local bodies and better waste management measures to address the issue. They said repeated representations seeking sterilisation drives and improved waste management had yielded little response, as local bodies had no mechanism in place to control the stray dog population.

While the Erode Corporation has been implementing the ABC programme, under which more than 12,000 stray dogs have been sterilised and administered anti-rabies vaccination, residents said similar initiatives were largely absent in neighbouring rural local bodies. They pointed out that the stray dog population had increased considerably in the village and town panchayats of Lakkapuram, 46 Pudur, Elavamalai, Nasiyanur, Kadirampatti, Vadamugam Vellode, Avalpoondurai and Gangapuram, all of which have witnessed rapid urbanisation in recent years.

“Earlier, fewer than three dogs could be seen on busy roads. Now, the number has increased to more than eight,” said T. Vignesh of Sanarmedu. He said over 15 to 20 dogs were present on the premises of the Solar bus stand. Residents attributed the congregation of dogs in such areas to the easy availability of food, including leftovers and waste discarded in public places.

Residents blamed poor solid waste management practices for the increase in stray dog population. Garbage dumped along roadsides and in open spaces becomes a instant food source, leading to the congregation of dogs in residential areas and along major roads. According to residents, almost every street in the affected local bodies has at least three to five stray dogs, while busy road stretches often have more than 10 dogs at a time. Improper disposal of meat waste near poultry shops has further aggravated the problem, they said.

“Though dog bites are a concern, the bigger issue is that stray dogs bark at and chase motorists and pedestrians, creating fear among road users. We hesitate to use certain stretches even during the daytime,” said P. Amutha of Vaikalmedu.

Residents urged the authorities to extend the ABC programme to rural local bodies, conduct periodic anti-rabies vaccination drives, establish shelter facilities for stray dogs, improve waste management, prevent roadside dumping, and ensure scientific disposal of meat and poultry waste.

A fearsome stray dog attack which left a 69-year old man in the capital with serious injuries to his face and eyes has reignited fears of stray dog attacks among the people in various parts of the city with considerable dog population on the streets. The Corporation also found itself in a spot with the Opposition raising questions about the effectiveness of the ongoing Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.

On Friday, Chandran, a resident of Vettamukku was heading to a shop near his home in Kattachal Road, when a stray dog charged at him. When he fell down on the road, the dog repeatedly bit his face, injuring his right eyelid and lips. A group of local residents, who reached the spot, drove away the stray dog, saving him from further injuries.

Mr.Chandran was admitted to the Government Medical College Hospital here and a surgery was conducted. The local residents’ association has demanded the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation to take strong action to control stray dogs as the area has witnessed attacks by dogs in recent months. Last week, a 26-year old research scholar had died after he fell from the two-wheeler he was riding, when a stray dog jumped in front of it near Thumba.

On Monday, the Opposition Left Democratic Front (LDF) staged a protest in front of the Corporation main office in Palayam, accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Corporation of having failed to take any concrete steps to address the stray dog menace. When the BJP took charge earlier this year, Mayor V.V.Rajesh had announced a pilot project to address the stray dog issue in the city. As a first step, 50 dogs were caught from various areas within the Corporation’s borders and sterilised.

However, a plan to shift stray dogs from the city to a dog shelter at a panchayat in the capital’s outskirts hit a roadblock due to protests of the local population, who opposed the move to bring a large number of stray dogs into a thickly populated area. The number of sterilisations also has not seen much of an increase in recent months.