Stray dog menace continues to be a nuisance to the people of Coimbatore. That the strays do not merely stop at barking, but also go to the extent of biting people, especially during the night time, is evident from the number of dog bite cases that report at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital.

The nuisance of such strays is significant in areas such as Saibaba colony, Kurichi, Sundarapuram, Rathinapuri, Ganapathy, Peelamedu, Ram Nagar, Ukkadam, Kovaipudur and Podanur residential areas. Residents of those areas say that these dogs are a serious threat for those going for early morning walks and riding two-wheelers in the night hours.

Strays normally target milk vendors on bicycles, newspaper boys, sometimes even four-wheelers. But those who are most affected are school students who end up with dog bites.

Arumugam, a hardware shop owner and a resident of Poombukar Nagar, Edayarpalayam, suffered bruises after he fell off his bike while trying to flee from a pack of dogs on the Kavundampalayam Road.

“There are a dozen stray dogs on our streets and in the entire ward of Saibaba colony. We informed the civic body officials and ward councillor about the issue, but no action has been taken” said Nagendiran of Rathinapuri.

The councillors representing the localities also have the same grievance to narrate. They have raised the issue in the Council but only empty promises have come through.