Child rights panel urges govt depts to sterilize stray dogs

North News

Chandigarh, January 24 

The Punjab State Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Friday directed authorities to take immediate action to curb stray dog attacks following reports of fatal incidents involving children. Commission Chairman Kanwardeep Singh instructed the Local Government and Rural Development departments to conduct a census of stray dogs across cities and implement sterilization measures.

“The commission has taken suo-motu notice of media reports about increasing stray dog attacks on children,” Singh said, citing cases in Punjab’s Hasanpur village, where two children reportedly died within a week. Other regions, including Mohali, Zirakpur, Amritsar, Machhiwara Sahib, and Nabha, have also reported incidents, raising public concern.

The commission called on authorities to enforce the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, issued by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying. Singh emphasized that the timely implementation of these rules is critical to controlling the stray dog population and preventing further attacks.