Chitlapakkam residents rue stray dog menace

“The dogs chase us in groups during morning walks. The canines often keep chasing until the vehicles go out of their sight. Sometimes, the motorists skid and fall as they don’t give space for the vehicles. The government and local bodies should take some steps to decrease the population of stray dogs in the locality,” said Vishwanath P, a resident of Chitlapakkam.

The residents point out that the dogs eat the leftovers on roadside and garbage bins attract them to the neighbourhood. “I am a regular commuter on this road. Whenever I pass by this lane, I am chased by at least four dogs every day. They run along the vehicle, making me lose my balance. I have reported the issue to the authorities twice. Though they have assured me that they have caught the dogs and sterilised them, the officials should take some steps for the safety of the residents,” said Dhanraj K, another resident of Chitlapakkam.

The resident also added that as a result, children could not play in the evening since if they come out, groups of dogs chase them. When contacted, a senior official of Chitlapakkam Town Panchayat said, “We could not take the dogs and leave them in other places. But we ensure that the stray dogs are vaccinated. The residents should avoid feeding the dogs.”