New Delhi: The incident of two foreign coaches being bitten by a stray dog at Jawaharlal Nehru (JLN) Stadium could have been avoided had the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) followed established procedures that had ensured zero bite incidents in the premises for 40 years, Delhi Animal Welfare Board (DAWB) member Dr Asher Jesudoss told ThePrint.
Coach Meiko Okumatsu from Japan and Kenyan coach Dennis Maragia, in Delhi for the 12th World Para Athletics Championships, were bitten while training on Friday. As the incident made headlines, animal lovers blamed the MCD, claiming the civic body had violated the Supreme Court’s August order on the management of stray dogs.
During previous events at JLN stadium, the MCD would work with caregivers and dog feeders of the area to cordon off all the canines within the premises beforehand, Jesudoss, a member of the DAWB’s executive committee, said. They would then be caught and placed in shelter homes until an event concluded. This time, however, the feeders were not involved.
“MCD personnel managed to catch just 11 out of the 45 dogs. Many were frightened, chased, and driven away. At previous events, 100% of the dogs were peacefully cordoned off with the help of feeders,” said Jesudoss, adding that the situation allowed new or unfamiliar dogs to enter the premises, and the dog that attacked the coaches could have been one of them.
“Dogs have lived in the JLN compound for more than 40 years. There are five designated feeding points. Most Indian athletes are familiar with and friendly towards the dogs, and foreign delegates at this event have also mentioned that they have no problem with their presence,” he further said, adding that “fact-finding” team had gone to the spot and spoken with stadium authorities as well as the two coaches who were bitten.
ThePrint reached MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar for comment via calls and messages. This report will be updated when a response is received.
However, Delhi Deputy Mayor Jai Bhagwan Yadav told ANI: “This incident is unfortunate and shameful that someone coming from outside got bitten by dogs. As far as the MCD’s preparedness goes, they had removed the dogs the day before. If the gate was left open or the dogs slipped in, that should not have happened. We are trying to ensure such incidents don’t happen in the future.”
Yadav added that he agreed with the Supreme Court’s earlier order on stray dogs, before it was modified, which stated that all dogs should be rounded up and put in shelters.
Kenyan coach Mwanzo had narrated his experience in an interview to ANI, where he explained that during his warm-up session, he felt something on his leg, and by the time he turned to look, a dog had already bitten him.
Gauri Maulekhi, trustee at People for Animals India, told ANI that relocation results in an increase in dog bites because dogs are territorial. “The incident has only highlighted the fact that the MCD has been thick-skinned, despite directions from the Supreme Court on August 22…”
She added: “Dogs are still being picked up by unscrupulous, illegal NGOs from certain societies, only to be dropped elsewhere. This increases dog bites because dogs are territorial. If they are taken from one place and relocated to another, they become anxious and scared, and they fight for their survival — and that is when incidents occur.”
“If there’s someone who has embarrassed the nation, it is clearly the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. Neither the dogs nor their responsible feeders should be scapegoated,” said Jesudoss.
(Edited by Gitanjali Das)
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