Gurgaon: Almost a year after Supreme Court ordered community dogs removed from public spaces, around 900 are present inside govt and private schools in Faridabad, according to data compiled by the education department. Some schools reported 45 dogs on their premises, including entry gates, corridors and parking areas. The dogs are unlikely to be relocated soon because construction of the shelter meant to house them has not started.Taking note of what it termed an “alarming rise in dog bite incidents”, the apex court had directed states and Union territories to remove community dogs from hospitals, educational institutions, sports complexes, bus terminals and railway stations. It also ordered that such premises be fenced and secured, and that dogs once picked up not be released back in the same area.The highest number in the Faridabad data comes from Adarsh Vidya Niketan Senior Secondary School, Sector 19, which reported 45 dogs in and around the school. It flagged their presence near Mother Dairy, HUDA Market and ESI Dispensary. “As dogs are roaming in the nearby areas of school, it is very risky for students and parents. So please look into the matter,” the school reported.Govt Senior Secondary School, Baraul, reported 25 dogs on it campus, at the main gate and on the way to the school. GPS Manjhawali reported 20 on its ground and sought action. PM SHRI GSSS Samaipur reported 15 at its gate and within the boundary, and Pt Amar Nath High School 15 in front of the school, at entry gates and on the adjoining street.Private schools also reported their numbers. St Columbus School, Dayalbagh, Surajkund, reported 25 dogs, Tagore Convent School in Shiv Durga Vihar 20, Shamsher Singh Rana School 16, Aksharam School in Sector 77 13, and St Peter’s School 10. GMSPS Sector 31 reported 20, noting that people feed the animals in the area.A Faridabad Municipal Corporation official said around 1.5 acres in Bhopani village of Greater Faridabad has been designated for a shelter, with a capacity of 1,000 dogs. “Work on the shelter is likely to start by this week and be completed by Feb 2027, after which it will be handed over to MCF,” the official said.In the city, teachers said no similar exercise has been carried out to count strays dogs inside schools or to check whether campuses have proper boundary walls. “There has been no systematic exercise in which officials visited schools and recorded how many stray dogs are present inside the premises, where they enter from and whether the schools have adequate boundary walls. Without identifying the problem first, it is difficult to expect any permanent solution,” said a govt school teacher.Another teacher said the concern is greatest during morning arrival and afternoon dispersal, when large numbers of children pass through school gates. “The biggest concern is not just the presence of one or two dogs. In some places, dogs enter through open gates or gaps in the boundary wall and remain inside the campus. Younger children can get frightened, and teachers have to keep an eye on them while they are moving between classrooms, playgrounds and the gate,” the teacher said.A teacher at a third govt school said schools should not be left to deal with the issue alone. “Teachers are responsible for teaching and supervising children, but handling stray dogs is not part of our job. When a dog enters the campus, staff have to call someone, chase it away or wait for it to leave. There is always a fear that an animal may suddenly react when children are nearby. The civic authorities need to conduct a proper survey and put in place a mechanism for dealing with such complaints,” the teacher said.“SC’s order was specifically for individual establishments directing them to appoint an Nodal officer and look into the matter accordingly,” said a senior MCG official.Animal rights’ activists said instead of viewing community dogs and children as incompatible, we should equip children with the knowledge to coexist safely and compassionately. “That is an important life skill in itself. Over the past few years, we have received requests from educational institutions for the sterilisation and vaccination of community dogs living on their campuses. When we visit for a pick-up, we see teary-eyed children and teachers who have formed deep bonds with these dogs. We have also seen the therapeutic value of these interactions, with time spent around animals helping create a calmer environment for children experiencing stress and anxiety. The occasional incidents of dog bites can largely be prevented through simple, age-appropriate education on dog behaviour, body language and safe interaction,” said Vrinda Sharma, who is part of the civic body’s animal birth control programme.
