Stray Dog Attack Sparks Heated Debate at KDP Meeting in Mangaluru

Stray Dog Attack Sparks Heated Debate at KDP Meeting in Mangaluru

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Nov 16, 2025: The recent killing of a 60-year-old man in a stray dog attack at Kumpala on the city’s outskirts triggered intense discussions at the Karnataka Development Programme (KDP) meeting chaired by district in-charge minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Saturday.

Raising the issue, MLC Ivan D’Souza urged the government to take the stray dog menace seriously and sought adequate compensation for the family of Dayananda Gatti, who was found dead near the Kumpala bypass in Ullal early on Friday.

Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) commissioner Ravichandra Naik informed the meeting that the Supreme Court has recently directed municipalities to remove stray dogs from public spaces and house them in dog pounds after sterilisation and vaccination. Dogs identified as rabid or aggressive must not be released back, he added. While MCC is implementing the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme through the Animal Care Trust, Naik said the city lacks sufficient space to establish a dog pound. Once suitable land is identified, the corporation will provide staff and resources, he assured.

MLC Manjunath Bhandary stressed the need to remove stray dogs from areas surrounding schools and colleges to ensure public safety.

Dr Arun Kumar Shetty, deputy director of the animal husbandry department, said the dog suspected of mauling the victim was captured and later died at a shelter. Samples have been sent for rabies testing, he said. Responding to queries on compensation, he noted that while up to ₹5 lakh can be granted for deaths caused by dog attacks in rural areas, no such clear guidelines exist for urban regions.

Deputy commissioner Darshan HV said he would take up the matter with the urban development department to frame a policy for compensation in urban cases.

Minister Gundu Rao directed the DC and zilla panchayat CEO Narwade Vinayak Karbhari to plan the establishment of dog pounds to relocate stray dogs from public spaces. He also instructed officials to curb illegal waste dumping and ensure cleanliness across the district.