Rabid Stray Dog Attacks Walkers at Iconic Museum Grounds

On 2025-11-15, just two days ago, a rabid stray dog attacked morning walkers at the popular Museum grounds in Kerala's capital city. The incident has caused considerable unease about people's safety in the area, which is frequented by the public, including school students on picnics and tours.

Experts say that full-fledged infrastructure, proper annual vaccination of dogs, consistent implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) program, and adequate resources and manpower are all critical to controlling the stray dog population. However, the authorities have struggled to effectively implement the ABC program, leading to a proliferation of stray dogs in the city.

Corporation veterinary surgeon Sreerag Jayan explains that at least 70% of the dogs in an area need to be sterilized for the stray dog population to be controlled. But the city's efforts to round up and sterilize stray dogs have not been entirely successful, with some dogs managing to evade capture.

The incident has reignited the debate around the feasibility of shelters for stray dogs in the densely populated state. Residents like Ashok Unnikrishnan argue that allowing dogs in the Museum compound, which is frequented by the public, is not the right approach and could impact the institution's revenue.