Thiruvananthapuram: An aggressive stray dog which went on a biting spree, injuring several people, including children, in the 12th ward of Edamulackal grama panchayat in Kollam was shot dead on Tuesday.The dog roamed through different parts of the panchayat, attacking pedestrians and residents without provocation, said local sources. Children playing outdoors, pedestrians and those on two-wheelers were among those bitten. The sudden attacks triggered fear in the locality as residents struggled to keep the animal away from homes, schools and public roads.As the situation escalated, a group of residents, led by the panchayat president, tracked the animal and hired a person to shoot it dead with a licenced firearm. The action came after repeated attempts to contain the dog reportedly failed.Those injured in the attacks were rushed to nearby govt hospitals, where they were administered anti-rabies vaccination and other post-exposure treatment. Health authorities advised all who came into contact with the dog to seek immediate medical attention.The dog’s carcass was handed over to animal husbandry department for postmortem examination and laboratory testing to determine whether it was infected with rabies. Officials said further public health measures would depend on the test results.Edamulackal residents demanded urgent intervention by local authorities, including intensified stray dog vaccination and sterilisation drives, improved waste management and quicker response mechanisms to prevent similar incidents.The state witnessed several attacks by suspected rabid dogs in recent months, with incidents involving children and elderly persons. In a similar incident in Kollam earlier this year, a rabid stray dog attacked multiple residents before laboratory tests confirmed rabies infection.
