New Delhi: Interactions between humans and street dogs in India are mostly peaceful, with 82% of encounters showing neutral or approachable behaviour, according to research on street dogs and public health by the University of Edinburgh.
The study found that only 2% of interactions involved aggression, such as barking, chasing, or biting.
The findings come in the wake of a Supreme Court order on Monday directing the removal of stray dogs from all Delhi-NCR localities and their relocation to shelter homes, citing rising cases of dog bites and rabies.
Professor Krithika Srinivasan, who led the study, cautioned that culling or mass removal of dogs could reverse decades of public health progress. Reported human rabies cases in India have dropped nearly 75% over the past two decades, from 274 in 2005 to 34 in 2022, thanks to widespread dog vaccination and improved post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Yet, gaps in timely access to PEP and adherence to vaccination schedules remain a concern.
Srinivasan warned that culling often backfires, attracting unfamiliar dogs to vacated areas and creating ecological gaps that may be filled by other potentially dangerous animals.
A 2022-23 survey across 15 states recorded a dog bite incidence of 4.7 per 1,000 population, far lower than the 18.7 per 1,000 observed in Cheshire, UK. Public opinion surveys in Chennai, Jaipur, and Malappuram (Kerala) showed 86% support for dog vaccination and 66% for neutering, while over 70% opposed culling. Opposition rose to 77% among those who had previously been chased or bitten by stray dogs.
The research recommends a science-driven, community-based approach: universal and free PEP, sustained vaccination drives, food waste management, community education, and responsible caregiving. It warns that elimination policies may seem like quick fixes but are unlikely to achieve lasting safety outcomes.
