Stray Dogs - Cruelty, Problems & Solutions
Street Dogs can be defined as free
ranging & unconfined dogs that live mainly beside roadside. Street Dogs may
include Stray Dogs, Feral dogs or Pet Dogs which are abandoned by their owners.
With an ever increasing human population globally, and blooming up of Cities,
stray dogs have become a great nuisance to the Public Management System as well
as a matter of great concern. It’s high time to rethink the challenges we face
today due to the Stray dogs and then act accordingly.
Human perception is the main reason
for suffering of so many desi dogs on the streets. While our dogs suffer and
fight to live on the streets, but we are busy to import foreign breeds from
other countries or breed them in our country and sell them. We, the so called
aristocrat people, get our own sense of identity from external things. A modern
big house, latest high technology car, a purebred foreign dog and the list goes
on. These external factors give us a sense of confidence and superiority in the
eyes of society. Most of us are struck on it but as a responsible human being
as well as citizen of our country we have to think rationally that this “stray
dog” problem is a global problem. If we can come out of our fancy imagination
then there is a very simple solution to solve this issue.
The Indian street dogs are mainly
Indian Pariah breed but mixed breed frequency is more than any pure Desi breed.
These Indian street dogs are extremely alert, very social dogs. They are
excellent watch dogs and are territorial and defensive of their family. A single
dog or a small group of dogs claim a stretch of road and guard the territory
against other canine intruders. Street dogs are often aggressive during mating
season, when they are teased by people or when they feel they and their puppies
are threatened.
Causes of Existence
Food availability:
Abundance of dog
depends upon habitat that has mainly availability of resources for survival
such as food, water and shelter. Large amount of exposed garbage provide ample
source of food. Dense, poor quality housing and large amount of waste
containing areas of city have higher population of stray dogs.
Abandonment of pet dogs:
Dog abandonment is a
big problem in India. When pet owners cannot take care of their pets they drive
their pet far away. They just don’t think what their pet is thinking at all. This
is the most inhumane practice and government should crack down this practice by
law.
Lack of spay and neuter programs and
their implementation:
There are several
factors like lack of government programs, lack of government funding of animal
control programs, lack of awareness about the benefits associated with
neutering a pet, religious reasons also.
Cruelty to stray
In United States, animal
cruelty is enlisted as a group 1 felony alongside homicide. But in India acts
of cruelty towards animal is punishable with Rs 50 fine according to Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Thus acts of cruelty have risen sharply across
the country. Most of these incidents are forgotten even if some initial outrage
happened.
Dog meat trade:
For dog meat production, dogs are killed using electrocution or they will be hanged and boiled alive in China, South Korea,Phillipines,Thailand and many other countries. In some parts of India like Nagaland, few people consume dog meat. This is a big cruelty issue about street dogs.Around 10-20 millions dogs are slaughtered in China,2 millions in South Korea and 5 millions in Vietnam.
Problems caused by Street Dogs
Dog Bites:
Stray dogs are often
ferocious and aggressive. Rabies is one of the deadly disease which is spread
through dog bites. According to WHO, an estimate of Stray Dogs population is
more than 200million and the case reports of death is around 55,000 worldwide
whereas in India, the population is more
than 30 million & approximately 20,000 people die of rabies every year
which is highest in the world. Although post – exposure Rabies vaccine is
available but the schedule is quite lengthy & poor people many a times
can’t afford to buy Post- Bite Vaccines and ultimately succumb to death. India
could be fighting a lost battle against rabies, because only 15% of all stray
dogs are vaccinated. Rabies free South
Asia by 2020 as is the WHO’s dream, looks far from reach. And according to WHO,
70% of the dog population needs to be vaccinated to limit rabies.
Social Life:
Street dogs barking and howling leads to a
great annoyance to the peaceful social life. Small children are quite afraid
sometimes to even go outside their house due to the panic and terror already
set up in their mind due to barking feral dogs. Even aged people feel disturbed
due to the noise produced from their bark.
Dog excreta:
It
can be a potential source for the transmission of various diseases to humans.
Dogs use their urine for territory marking. Marking behavior is present in both
male and female dogs but it is more pronounced in Male dogs which are not
neutered. The smell of their urine is highly pungent, irritable and quite
difficult to tolerate.
Leptospirosis, a
disease that mainly results in jaundice and pulmonary disturbances is caused by
the bacteria Leptospira sp. can be
spread to humans living in poor sanitary conditions through Dogs urine that
contaminates soil, food and water. The overall risk of death is 5-10% but when
lungs are involved it may increase to the range of 50-70%.
Toxocariasis, caused by
the larval stage of a nematode Toxocara canis is a zoonotic disease that mainly
results in neural, asthmatic or ocular problems in humans specially small
children acquire the infection due to their accidental eating habits of soil infected with pup
faeces which is a potential carrier of Toxocara
canis eggs.
Traffic &
Accidents:
A gang of Stray dogs
occupying the main road and resulting
into traffic is often seen. Stray dogs have a tenacity to fight with each other
or to chase. Thus it may lead to various road accidents or injury to the Dog or
the rider as often they lose their control over
vehicles.
Hygiene &
Cleanliness:
Due to the decline in
vulture population, animal carcasses that would have been consumed by the
vultures became available for consumption by the feral dogs. Stray dogs are
mostly seen to carry various waste garbage bags or discarded and leftover food
materials from the dustbins and spreading them here and there. These waste material often decompose, attract flies & other
insects, smells badly and affects the overall cleanliness and hygiene of the
society.
Uncontrolled Breeding:
Un- spayed female dogs
come in heat twice in a year and if mates with a male dog results into an
average of six to seven puppies every six months. Thus one female stray dog
gives birth to an average of 12- 14 puppies in a year. This simply demonstrates
how the stray dogs population add up year after year and creates a huge problem
to the society.
Threat to Wildlife:
The stray dogs in rural
areas or wildlife areas can become a big predator threat to wildlife.
Solutions
Animal Birth Control (ABC)
Program:
ABC- AR Program was
started by the Blue Cross of India, based in Chennai.
The Animal Welfare Board of India encourages various governmental as well as non- governmental organizations to carry out sterilization programs that includes neutering & spaying of male & female dogs respectively.
Anti- Rabies (AR) Immunization:
These type of programs should
be conducted for the stray dogs in order to check the spread of deadly disease.
A novel tool has been designed to track vaccinated dogs with the help of Artificial Intelligence technology.
Under the Scheme Govt. provide financial assistance to NGO which are
actively involved in carrying out Sterilization & Immunization Programs:
- For Dog catching and admission to ABC Center & Relocation to the same captured areas – Rs75 per dog
- For pre & post operation care that includes feeding, medicines and for surgery – Rs 370 / dog
- And the NGOs undertaking this entire project and covering all the
components will be given Rs 445/ dog
All sterilized dogs
can be identified by the method of ear notching done at the time of
sterilization.
Sterilization &
Vaccination are good options to reduce the breeding of these Stray dogs as well
as are helpful in controlling the spread
of diseases.
Various studies showed
that spayed and neutered dogs live a longer & healthy life with reduced
medical & behavioral problems like aggression.
Rescue Groups &
Relocation:
Govt. should encourage
different Rescue Groups for catching, capturing and relocating Stray dogs from
the urban areas and people dwelling places to Natural areas such as forests
which is far away from human settlements.
Special Shelters:
Special schemes should
be initiated by Government to create special shelters for the stray dogs taking
into account their feeding, vaccination, deworming and management by recruiting
Veterinarians too. Although this may be a costly option.
Kerala proposes "Stray Dogs zoo" for providing them safe habitat.
Killing or poisoning:
Many people may think killing as an option but it is not only inhumane
but also illegal after a law was passed in 2001 in India that prohibits killing
of Stray Dogs.
Poisoning of Stray Dogs is also an offence and punishable as per Cruelty
to Animals Act.
Adopt Don’t Shop policy:
Desi dogs are adapted to the climate of India unlike foreign breeds. They are very much loyal to their human friend and protective to them. They are less prone to disease condition. So, in every aspects they are very much suitable for adoption and we can rear them as pet.
Conclusion
Local administration
efforts to sterilize stray dogs have improved in recent years but there is a
lot more to be done. There is a desperate need for more fund and staff.
Awareness should be spread among common people about the problems of Stray Dogs
and various solutions should be shared with them.
So, if Government, NGOs
and common people all stand together united
then Stray Dogs problem would no longer exists & hope our country
will soon witness decreased mortality rates due to Rabies and a clean, healthy
and harmonious environment.
Netherland
is the first country which is almost free
of Stray dogs by following these different policies. Dutch strictly follow CNVR
(Catch, Neuter, Vaccinate and Release) method and go for street dog adoption.
Motto
Dogs are human’s friend. Let Stray dogs no longer Stray.
One of the trending
solution is to encourage common people and convince them to adopt local Dog
breeds of our Country by letting them know all the usefulness of keeping a
local breed and giving them an indepth
idea regarding various local Dog Breeds. We all must have compassion to help
resolve this crisis humanely.
Take Care & Stay Safe.
Love from “SJ Ideas”
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