Juliaauhm at 12:53, 28 January 2026

2026-01-28T12:53:10Z

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{{Short description|Controversy around population control of stray dogs}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}}
[[Free-ranging dogs]] have become a [[public health]] issue in the state of [[Kerala]] in [[India]]. Two people died from [[dog attacks]] in 2016, and many have been injured. Efforts to control the population have created conflicts between Indian advocates of public safety and opponents of [[animal cruelty]], and caused international backlash including calls for a boycott of [[tourism]] to Kerala.

==Incidents==
A large number of women and children have been attacked by stray dogs in the coastal belts of Kerala.{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}} According to a report submitted in the [[Supreme Court of India]], more than hundred thousand people were attacked by stray dogs in the year of 2015-16{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}. The stray dog population of Kerala is estimated to be about two hundred and fifty thousand{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}. The growth in the number of free-ranging dogs is because of chicken waste dumped from restaurants all over the state without cleanliness{{Citation needed|date=August 2022}}. 5,948 people were bitten by street dogs in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] district last year and 4,916 people were affected in [[Palakkad]] district. The statistics are similar in the other 12 districts of Kerala.<ref name="PTI 2016">{{cite web | title=Kerala: More than 100 stray dogs attack and kill 65-year-old woman | website=Firstpost | date=20 August 2016 | url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/kerala-more-than-100-stray-dogs-attack-and-kill-65-year-old-woman-2967274.html | access-date=19 September 2016}}</ref>

===Arrest of social worker===
In 2016, a worker from [[Cochin]] called Jose Maveli was arrested for killing street dogs in large number.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/Subsidised-air-guns-case-against-Jose-Maveli/article15477434.ece|title=Subsidised air guns: case against Jose Maveli|date=9 October 2016|access-date=12 February 2019|website=Thehindu.com}}</ref> It was reported that Maveli killed about 25 stray dogs in Chengamanad panchayath of [[Ernakulam]] district.<ref name="Mathrubhumi 2016">{{cite web | title=Culling of stray dogs: Jose Maveli arrested | website=Mathrubhumi | date=19 September 2016 | url=http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/culling-of-stray-dogs-jose-maveli-arrested-english-news-1.1365429 | access-date=19 September 2016}}</ref> In December 2016, Jose Maveli was asked by the Supreme Court of India to appear before it.

===Death in [[Varkala]]===
In October, 2016, a 90-year-old man was killed in Varkala by the attack from a pack of street dogs. The old man was sleeping on the veranda of his house when a group of dogs attacked him.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/stray-dog-attack-malayalam-news-1.1455556|title=തെരുവുനായ ആക്രമണം: ചികിത്സയിലായിരുന്ന വൃദ്ധന്‍ മരിച്ചു|website=Mathrubhumi|access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref> The angry people killed more than 90 dogs in the locality on the following day of the old man's death.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/street-dogs-killed-varkkala-malayalam-news-1.1458117|title=വര്‍ക്കലയില്‍ തെരുവ് നായ്ക്കളെ കൂട്ടത്തോടെ കൊന്നു|website=Mathrubhumi|access-date=12 February 2019}}</ref>

==Stray Dog Free movement==
[[Kochouseph Chittilappilly]] is the chairman of the Stray Dog Free movement, which advocates action against the risks allegedly posed by stray dogs in Kerala, including the amendment of legislation forbidding the killing of these dogs.<ref name="NDTV.com">{{cite web | title=Kerala's Leading Businessman Goes on Hunger Strike Against Street Dogs | website=NDTV.com | date=2015-10-26 | url=http://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/keralas-leading-businessman-goes-on-hunger-strike-against-street-dogs-1236253 | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref> The movement has pointed to the danger of [[rabies]] and referred to stray dogs as a "menace".<ref name="Express"/> Chittilappilly has staged hunger strikes to protest this legislation, and what he claims is governmental failure to address this issue.<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite web | title=A day's strike to tackle stray menace | website=The Hindu | date=2015-10-20 | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/a-days-strike-to-tackle-stray-menace/article7782645.ece | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref><ref name="Times">{{cite web | title=Chittilappilly to stage hunger strike in T'puram | website=The Times of India | date=2016-02-07 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Chittilappilly-to-stage-hunger-strike-in-Tpuram/articleshow/50886686.cms | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref> He has stated that the government's actions amount to valuing stray dogs over human lives and property.<ref name="Basheer">{{cite web | last=Basheer | first=KPM | title=A dogged drive against stray dogs | website=The Hindu Business Line | date=2015-10-20 | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/a-dogged-drive-against-stray-dogs/article7784837.ece | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref> He has encouraged citizens to pressure the government to amend these laws, and to kill stray dogs themselves despite the accompanying 50-[[rupee]] fine.<ref name="Express">{{cite web| title=Chittilappilly Stages Fast Against Stray Dog Menace | website=The New Indian Express | date=2016-03-05 | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Chittilappilly-Stages-Fast-Against-Stray-Dog-Menace/2016/02/21/article3288358.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222095214/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Chittilappilly-Stages-Fast-Against-Stray-Dog-Menace/2016/02/21/article3288358.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 February 2016 | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref><ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite web | title=Chittilappilly launches hunger strike over stray dog menace | website=Mathrubhumi | date=2016-02-21 | url=http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/chittilappilly-launches-hunger-strike-over-stray-dog-menace-english-news-1.879873 | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref> Chittilappilly has been arrested under statutes preventing cruelty to animals after tying four stray dogs in front of a police station.<ref name="Times Booked">{{cite web | title=Chittilappilly booked for cruelty against strays | website=The Times of India | date=2015-10-20 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Chittilappilly-booked-for-cruelty-against-strays/articleshow/49462105.cms | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref>

==Boycott Kerala Tourism campaign==
Governmental plans to cull stray dogs have prompted an international campaign to "Boycott Kerala Tourism" in protest.<ref name="NDTV.com"/><ref name="Mohan 2015">{{cite web | last=Mohan | first=Neethu | title=Stray dogs culling: Boycott Kerala campaign gains momentum | website=www.oneindia.com | date=2015-07-14 | url=http://www.oneindia.com/india/stray-dogs-culling-boycott-kerala-campaign-gains-momentum-1806273.html | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref><ref name="BBC 2015">{{cite web| title=How far will India's dog-lovers go to save strays? | website=BBC News | date=2015-08-10 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-33822511 | access-date=2016-03-05}}</ref> Opponents of the Stray Dog Free movement have argued that [[Rabies vaccine#Other animals|vaccination]] and [[spay/neuter]] campaigns are a more effective and humane method of controlling the stray dog population. Members of the Stray Dog Free movement have alleged that opposition is being funded by [[rabies vaccine]] manufacturers.<ref name="Ajeesh">{{cite news |work=Prokerala | last=Ajeesh | first=A. | title=NGOs opposing culling of stray dogs financed by anti-rabies vaccine lobby: Collector Biju Prabhakar |date=2016-02-20}}</ref>

==Union government position==
Union minister [[Menaka Gandhi]] has criticized the state government of Kerala for trying to kill stray dogs illegally.<ref name="Karindalam 2016">{{cite web | last=Karindalam | first=Anirudha | title='What has Kerala achieved by killing strays?' | website=theweek.in | date=21 August 2016 | url=http://www.theweek.in/news/india/what-has-kerala-achieved-by-killing-stray-dogs-asks-maneka-gandhi.html | access-date=19 September 2016}}</ref>

==State government position==
Kerala's minister [[K.T. Jaleel]] stated that the government will cull all the stray dogs before 2019 with the help of the local bodies. The chief minister of Kerala, however, did not support such a mass level of culling.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/It-is-a-question-that-dogs-beleaguered-Kerala-to-kill-or-not-to-kill/article14594665.ece|title=It is a question that dogs beleaguered Kerala: to kill or not to kill|first=K. S.|last=Sudhi|date=28 August 2016|access-date=12 February 2019|website=Thehindu.com}}</ref><ref name="India 2016">{{cite news| title=Kerala to cull violent stray dogs | newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] | date=23 August 2016 | url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/kerala-to-cull-violent-stray-dogs-2992701/ | access-date=20 September 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Feral dogs]]
[[Category:Health in Kerala]]

Free-ranging dog issue of Kerala - Revision history

Juliaauhm at 12:53, 28 January 2026