Experts are questioning the accuracy of reported dog-bite statistics for children in Karnataka, suggesting that the figures may be artificially inflated. Sujaya Jagadish, a representative of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), claims that the data may count each vaccine dose in a multi-dose regimen as a separate incident, along with including precautionary vaccinations for minor scratches.
Read More
Jagadish stated, "I am of the opinion that the actual number of unique incidents is much lower. The majority of bites involve pet dogs at home, not strays. Aggression among street dogs is largely caused by illegal relocations by authorities and resident welfare associations (RWAs), which create fear and overcrowding among territorial animals.”
Despite these claims, government data shows concerning numbers regarding dog bites among children aged up to 18 years. In the last seven months, more than 100,000 children have reportedly been affected across Karnataka. Bengaluru Urban recorded the highest number with 10,041 children impacted, followed by Vijayapura at 9,009 and Bagalkot at 7,425. Chamarajanagar had the lowest count with 690 cases.
Total dog-bite cases reached 107,696 over this seven-month period, compared to previous years: 134,023 in 2025, 109,616 in 2024, 70,639 in 2023, 50,776 in 2022, 17,977 in 2021, and 13,125 in 2020.
Dr. Thippeswamy KT, a former member of the Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, sought data on dog bites among children from the past five years. He expressed concern over the rise in incidents, stating that local bodies need to focus on this issue since children have the right to safety.
"The increase in dog bites among children aged up to 18 is disturbing. The state government must collect data on dog bites from local bodies and prepare an action plan to prevent such incidents in the future," said Dr. Thippeswamy. He noted that several municipalities declined to provide this data when requested, indicating a possible neglect of child welfare in managing stray dogs.
In response to the situation, Dr. KT Parameshwar, Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, emphasized the need for measures to isolate dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior. He noted that dog attacks are more common when dogs travel in packs and suggested relocating only those that pose a danger to the public, rather than removing all stray dogs from the streets.