Chennai: Seven including 78-yr-old man bitten by stray dog

CHENNAI: A dog loitering around in Thiruneermalai area on Saturday morning, suddenly began to chase and attack people passing by. Seven persons including a 78-year-old senior citizen, were bitten by the canine, which is suspected to be rabies-affected. It also attacked a cow gazing in the area.

The 78-year-old, Srinivasan, of Parvathy Puram in Thiruneermalai was on his routine walk around 7 am when the incident happened. He suffered injuries to his feet and knee. The same dog bit six other persons in the area. One among them was 32-year-old Ramachandra, who tried to chase the animal.

All the victims were given anti-rabies shots as a precaution to prevent spread of rabies. On an alert, Velachery Blue Cross personnel rushed to the spot and trapped the dog.

Residents claimed that stray dog menace kept increasing, as butchers emptied meat refuse into garbage bins, attracting stray dogs. Angry residents demanded that the corporation to take steps immediately to stop the stray dog menace.

Speaking to DC, residential general manager of Blue Cross, Dawn Williams, said, “The captured dog was kept in a separate cell. It is unclear if the dog was affected by rabies. It would die in a week's time if the infection is severe. We will send the corpse to Vepery veterinary hospital for post-mortem and cremate it later.”