SOLUTION TO CONTROLLING STRAY DOG POPULATION IN INDIA
Compiled, & shared by-DR. RAJESH KUMAR SINGH, (LIVESTOCK & POULTRY CONSULTANT), JAMSHEDPUR Post no 1415 Dt 27/09//2019
JHARKHAND,INDIA 9431309542, rajeshsinghvet@gmail.com
India has the largest number of strays in the world, with over 35 million. India faces about 18,000 to 20,000 reported cases of rabies every year but unreported is more than this. According to the WHO report an estimated 45 pc of all deaths from rabies occur in South- East Asia out of which about 36 pc of the world’s deaths from rabies happen in India itself.In case rabid death in livestock which remains unnoticed , the condition is more horrible in India .Through infected cattle from rabies ,the livestock owners and vets/paravets become more prone of rabies.
The incidents from rabies in India have been constant for a decade, without any obvious declining trend, and reported incidence is probably an underestimation of true incidence because in India rabies is still not a notifiable disease.
India could be fighting a lost battle against rabies, because with only 15% of all stray dogs vaccinated, a rabies-free South Asia by 2020, as is the WHO’s dream, looks far from reach. Nowadays, the population of stray dogs is increasing at break- neck speed. To stop this, the authorities should make shelters for stray dogs. There should be space for dogs, but they should not be allowed to roam freely. People should be aware about steps to be taken in case a dog tries to bite. An eye should be kept on stray dogs in the city.
Why hate stray dogs?
Most of the population, however, look at stray dogs as a menace and a threat. A few isolated incidents of dog bites make people come out in arms against stray dogs and paint them all in the same colour. What they don’t understand is that a dog does not bite unless provoked, sick or in pain. Humans abuse, rape, hurt and kill their fellow humans. Looking at it from that perspective stray canines are indeed more loyal and trustworthy, they protect the neighbourhood where they live.
Understand about animal rights:
Stray dogs of India have co-existed with the humans from the Vedic ages. The localities in which we live, belong to them, as much as to us. In fact, they had existed in some areas even before humans moved there. So just wishing away won’t help, better is to take some action. There is no magic button which when pressed will resolve the problem.
Man’s best friends:
Dogs are known to be man’s best friend and the most loyal animal. In Japan, there is a memorial dedicated to Hachiko, an Akita dog. He is remembered to this day in Japan for his loyalty to his owner, for whom he waited for nine years post his death. Hachiko till his own death kept visiting the Shibuya station every day hoping that his owner would return. A Hollywood movie Hachiko narrates the story of the dog’s unshakeable loyalty. If dealt with the right way, the stray community dogs protect the area. Indies are the best guard dogs.
Tough life on the streets:
One needs to look at stray dogs with empathy. The poor creatures are born and die on the roads, pups get crushed under moving vehicles, and many are run over by reckless drivers leaving them paralysed and maimed for life. They eat whatever they find.
Having understood this, what can you do to help? The solution lies in population control, and that is going to a be a gradual process. The efforts put in by the municipal authorities are apparently not enough. They don’t seem to have a serious and planned approach to the problem. A lot of NGOs and animal welfare volunteers/activists supplement their efforts, but given the enormity of the problem, it’s still not enough. That’s where each one of us can step in. Here are the small steps each one of us can take.
Sterilize your pets:
This is something you should do, the moment your dog is old enough to be spayed/neutered. This prevents accidental pregnancies, and it’s good for their long-term health as well.
Don’t dislocate the dogs from their area:
While some of you may be irritated by the presence of too many street dogs in your locality, trying to find quick-fixes by picking them and dropping them in another location is not going to help. Dogs are territorial, so if you dumped one in some other locality, the dogs of that area are going to attack the newcomer, and the dislocated dog will become highly stressed. In this state of stress, he may bite the other dogs and humans as well. So, if someone got bitten by a dog in your locality, it might have been a similar case of dislocation. Also relocating a dog is illegal by law. Instead…
Get your community dogs sterilised and vaccinated:
Getting the dogs sterilised will ensure that they can’t mate and getting them vaccinated will ensure that they don’t get rabid and their bite won’t be harmful. While, I understand that you may not be comfortable going near the dogs or touching them, but you can certainly do one of the below things:
– Inform any animal welfare NGO that works in your area about the adult unsterilized dogs, and they will get the rest done. If you see any mother with its litter, ensure she is sterilised after 3 months
– Inform any animal welfare activist/volunteer in your area, and they will help
– Contact your local municipal body and inform them and get the locality dogs sterilised
– You can also support by sponsoring the sterilisation of some dogs although many organisations will do it for free
Don’t fight with the feeders/volunteers —
One thing that I have observed and have faced myself on feeding rounds; some residents come and confront the feeders/volunteers for feeding the stray dogs and talk illogically like “Take these dogs to your home” etc. What they don’t understand is that by feeding the stray dogs, the feeders/volunteers are able to win their trust and it’s easier for them to get the dogs vaccinated/ sterilised.
Don’t beat, hit or kill the dogs:
The worst thing you can do is to hit, beat, trouble or kill the dogs. If you hit or beat a dog, he will get aggressive (in self-defence) and may bite you or any other passer-by. Let them live in peace. There have been some terrible cases of dogs being culled and killed all over the country. It is nothing short of murder and a punishable offence as per law.
Report abuse:
don’t be a mute spectator to animal abuse. If you see someone hitting, beating or troubling a dog in any way, step in and object. Educate them instead.
Finally, Some advice for the pet owners. Once you decide to become a pet parent, don’t abandon your canine kid (whatever the situation). Also, just like in the developed nations let us start growing responsible and make a beginning by scooping up our dog’s poop. The streets already are full of the poop contributed by the stray dogs- we could certainly do with some less of it. It will be appreciated by our neighbours, and overall acceptance of pets co-existing with humans will increase.
The authorities should seriously look at converting some of the existing parks into dog parks and create some new ones for dogs to walk and play in. Walking the dogs on Indian roads and streets can get stressful for the owners too.
Why does India have such a greater number of stray dogs?———
The biggest reason behind the problem is open garbage. Stray dogs rely on garbage while hunting for eatables. Countries that have garbage kept in bins and are cleaned regularly see lesser number of stray dogs.
India also has fewer government and NGO services that deal with stray dogs. In many developed and developing countries, the government spays and neuters stray dogs to decrease their population growth. Many countries have organisations like Animal Control, the Humane Society, the SPCA, private shelters, and rescue organisations, that take care of the stray dog problems. The Indian government has to come up with large scale interventions and organisations that can deal with the problem. Rules for prevention of cruelty to animals that came in 1960 got amended in the year 2017, but the judicious implementation of regulations needs to be renewed and implemented in a more organised way.
We can all agree on the fact that ABC/AR (Animal Birth Control / Anti-Rabies) is the only way to control the stray dog population: it is advised by the WH organisation and it is the law in India.
Then the problem starts:
• There are not enough AWO’s (Animal Welfare Organizations) and AH (Animal Husbandry) departments to conduct the surgeries.
• Not enough well trained and caring veterinary surgeons; this results in cruelty, mismanagement and death.
• Not enough and adequate facilities for post operative care.
The underlying assumption is that dogs are an unwanted species, a pest, that needs to be controlled by sterilization. People think the ABC program is only for the sake of the human population and rabies control.
It is our assessment that in India the Government supported, contract based ABC/AR programmes, moving from one area to the next, does not result in a smaller dog population or less suffering. After a large number of dogs are sterilised the project moves to another place, leaving the former area alone, without animal welfare groups and without follow-up. Within one or two years the total dog population grows back because the unsterilised dogs have reproduced and without garbage control there is plenty of food.
The animal rights/welfare view is that dogs are part of the community with ties to local people, having different functions and they should not be seen as a threat but as a valuable part of daily life. Just like the human population they deserve first aid and shelter when they are in distress. This is even more vital than the ABC/AR program.
SOLUTION?
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has made it clear that the sterilisation and vaccination programme is the only effective method for controlling stray dog populations. In its Technical Reports Series 931, WHO’s Expert Consultation on Rabies, held in Geneva from October 5 to 8, 2004, identified three practical methods of dog populations management — “movement restriction, habitat control and reproduction control”. As stated in Guidelines for Dog Population Management, issued jointly by WHO and World Society for the Protection of Animals, in 1990, movement control meant preventing restricted or supervised dogs or family dogs from cutting loose to either mate or merge into the stray dog population.
As for habitat control, each habitat has a specific carrying capacity for each species, including higher vertebrates like dogs, determined by the “availability, distribution and quality of resources (shelter, food, water) for the species concerned”. Effective removal and management of garbage, for example, would eliminate an important source of food for stray dogs. The guidelines further state that the only way of ensuring reproduction control is a serious, nationwide implementation of the ABC programme.
The Technical Report Series 931 says, “Since 1960s, ABC programmes coupled with rabies vaccination have been advocated as a method to control urban street male and female dog populations and ultimately human rabies in Asia.” It further states, “Culling of dogs during [the implementation of] these programmes may be counterproductive as sterilised, vaccinated dogs may be destroyed.”
There is only one solution to dealing with the problem of India’s stray dog populations, dog bites and rabies: Implementation of WHO guidelines with immediate effect.
Community based dog care projects need to be established in every town, village and city. Just like there are government hospitals for people everywhere, the Animal Husbandry hospitals need to change course and be assisted by AWOs. At present they are only serving the bio industry and the owners of food animals.
Every AH hospital needs to provide:
• Free medical care for the local street dogs at the in- and outpatient departments of their clinic/shelter.
• Rescue of dogs in distress/cruelty or accidents, and ambulance service.
• Free lifesaving surgeries for dogs after accidents, cancer, amputations, pinning of fractures, etc.
• Lifetime care for those dogs that cannot be returned to their territory or owner.
• Veterinarians have to be trained to serve and respect the lives of all animals.
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO THIS STRAY DOG PROBLEM?
1. BRING BACK THE VULTURES- This will lead to a scarcity of food to the dogs and rats and eventually check their growth. Indian Government have banned the veterinary use of Diclofenac in 2006 and advocated the use of less toxic substitute MELOXICAM. There are dedicated Vulture sanctuaries and breeding ground under the supervision of the Government. There are also plans to release the birds in the wild in adequate numbers
2. IMPROVED WASTE MANAGEMENT- Segregation of waste will not only lead to reduction of the population size of the dogs but also reduce the amount of disease like rabies, anthrax, plaque, etc caused by them. Ministry of Health spends approx 25 billion USD per year to combat these health hazards.
3. CREATING AWARENESS- More people need to know about the crisis. Even after a decade of the ban, there is rampant use of the drug. People still litter or feed street dogs which adds to the problem.
4. STERILISATION AND VACCINATION- Some countries has adopted killing the street dogs as a way to combat the problem, with very little success. This inhumane approach brought criticism internationally as well as the judiciary which pointed out that its illegal to inflict pain to animals in any way.Our country is very sensible in this and has already started ABC/ARV drive through NGOs and local bodies under the aegis of AWBI.As per esteemeted report , sterilising one female dog can prevent 67,000 births in six years.
The public can also help end the cycle of animal homelessness and save lives by opening our hearts and homes to loyal, loving Indian dogs instead of buying animals from breeders or pet shops. It is also crucial that we have our canine companions sterilised in order to ensure that they don’t bring more puppies into a world that’s already short of good homes. Community dogs make wonderful, loyal companions, and there are many of them — along with abandoned pedigrees — waiting for good homes at animal shelters across the country.
Indian dogs are highly adaptable, quick learners, and protective of their guardians. They also tend to be free from many of the health and behavioural problems that plague their pedigree cousins, who are bred for certain unnatural physical traits, such as squashed-in noses or long ears. Best of all, when you make an Indian dog a part of your family, you not only save a life but also make a best friend for life.
Ways to deal with dog menace in societies
procedures to deal with human-dog conflicts:
“1. Dog population survey (Quantitative) – A scientific method is used, to estimate the total dog population of a particular campus. The data collected will include number of male and female dogs, pups, lactating females, skin condition, body condition, etc.
2. KAP (Knowledge, aptitude and practice survey) – A certain number of residents will be interviewed at their doorsteps. The questions will pertain to understanding about dogs’ behaviour, population of pets, occurrence of dog bites, pet ownership, perceptions/ mind-set about street dogs, etc.
3. Other surveys – This will include checking the outer boundary of the residential colony to gauge entry points for the dogs and estimating the numbers of dogs trespassing from outside.
4. Planning – After collecting this data, the priorities will be set, by focusing on the following:
• What are the actual concerns?
• Is sterilisation a solution? Even if all dogs are sterilised, nuisance complaints may persist, as a dogs’ life is around 7-8 years.
• Trespass of dogs – If the campus does not have closed boundaries, the sterilised dogs inside will be replaced by unsterilised dogs from outside, over time.
• Will creating a feeding area work? – A proper feeding zone should be created and residents should only be allowed to feed the dogs at this particular area at the designated time. This will restrict the dogs’ movements and prevent the dogs from entering the houses in search of food.
• Education – If the community can be easily convinced, then, a proper education program should be implemented.”
With the law clearly stating that there is no way of getting rid of the dogs, as it would fundamentally amount to a crime, hence, the need of the hour is to build effective awareness. even the sterilisation of all the dogs in an area, cannot completely solve stray dog menace. We can reduce the density or birth rate but it can only be sustained, with regular interventions and efforts by residents,. A majority of dog bites, are caused by the pet dog population in a complex, “So, all residential colonies must have basic rules for pet keeping, including keeping the pets on a leash, compulsory vaccination and sterilisation of pet dogs, proper garbage disposal, etc
.
The law regarding pets in housing colonies
A typical housing colony in India has three types of residents – dog lovers, dog haters and people who do not care. There will always be conflicts between the first two types of people. The actual problem lies in one’s ability to understand the canine’s behaviour. If people do not understand dog’s behaviour and their herd dynamics, then, no matter how friendly the dogs are, they will always find fault with the animals. In contrast, a person who understands and can differentiate between playful behaviour and aggressive behaviour, will be easy to convince,
So, the moot question is whether there can be a lasting solution to the conflict between dog lovers and dog haters in a residential complex.
we urges residents to read the February 2015 circular regarding pet and street dogs (http://www.awbi.org/awbi-pdf/pet_dog_circular_26_2_2015.pdf) issued by the AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India), Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, Government of India. “According to it, RWAs cannot ask for the removal or dislocation of street dogs and neither can they levy fines on the owners of pet dogs. They can only request for their sterilisation and vaccination, so that their population growth is curbed, as per the Animal Birth Control Rules 2001, drafted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of India. Societies can also distribute awareness literature to promote compassion towards animals and to sensitise people and promote harmonious coexistence of man and animals. We need a kind and compassionate society. There is already enough cruelty and hatred around. Kindness towards animals, will make a better world for all,
