Priyanka Saurabh
The ‘menace of stray dogs’ is constantly in the headlines in the media of India. For the last five years, more than 300 people – mostly children, from poor and rural families – have been killed by dogs. A 2017 study showed that stray dogs in rural areas can also be devastating to wildlife. Despite this, society remains insensitive toward this news. Occasionally this inertia is broken by some horrific events. Despite the acknowledgment of the menace by the states, the Centre, the judiciary, municipalities, and non-governmental organizations, the problem continues to grow. Dogs have had a unique relationship of companionship with the evolution of humans. This poses the moral dilemma of humans being responsible for their welfare, but it also has its dangers because the evolution of dogs is linked to wolves and their instincts. It may be an unsolvable conundrum for India, but most of the rest of the world has not recognized the rights of stray animals. If such animals are kept on a leash and registered, the keepers are bound to take care of them. If it is not, then as a last resort the state is bound to kill them in the interest of public health. Stray dogs are protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the regulations enacted under section 38 of the Act, particularly the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001. It makes it illegal for any person, RWA, or property management to remove or relocate dogs. Only 15 per cent of all stray dogs have been vaccinated. India’s stray population is huge, adoption is slow and limited as many people only want foreign-breed dogs. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 (being updated) aim to limit the population of stray animals but do little to improve public safety. The proposed draft rules, or the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2022, put forward only procedural changes in sterilization and vaccination, allow only ‘terminally ill and mortally injured’ dogs to be killed, and require resident welfare associations to register their cases in their localities. The PCA and ABC regulations acknowledge that uncontrolled stray dogs must be stopped, although this does not account for the magnitude of the problem as there is approximately one stray animal for every 100 Indians. At about 21,000, more than a third of all rabies deaths occur in India. For the last five years, more than 300 people – mostly children from poor and rural families – have been killed by dogs. A 2017 study showed that stray dogs in rural areas can also be devastating to wildlife. More than 80 species, of which more than 30 are on the endangered list, were targeted by dogs in wilderness areas. Dogs that are out alone can cause accidents when they run across the road, injuring themselves and other people. Stray dogs enjoy opening garbage bags and they can be the cause of littering and spreading litter around the environment and road far and wide. Stray dogs will scavenge neighborhoods for food and may break open garbage cans and damage gardens. People who feed stray dogs can be made responsible for their vaccinations and can bear the cost if someone is attacked by the animal. Each Resident Welfare Association should form a ‘Guard and Dog Partnership’ in consultation with the Police Dog Squad. So that the dogs can be trained and yet be friendly to the residents of the colony. Municipal corporations, residents’ welfare associations, and local dog groups should take care of the vaccination and sterilization of animals. Sick animals and aggressive animals have to be put to death. The only long-term solution is to enforce stricter pet ownership laws, prohibit people everywhere from carelessly feeding dogs, and establish facilities for domestic dogs. More staff and funds are desperately needed. Apart from sterilization, attention should also be paid to adoption. And we must find some compassion in helping to resolve this crisis humanely. As long as dogs are homeless on the streets, the idea of a rabies-free India with harmonious coexistence between people and dogs would be a utopian dream. Leaving dogs homeless is bad for dogs, bad for people, and bad for wildlife. India lacks infrastructure and mechanisms to ensure that the vulnerable (the poor and their children) have access to treatment. As such, it is a fantasy to expect the number of dogs to decrease with sterilization and vaccination. India has committed to eliminating rabies by 2030, but until the threat from stray dogs is first recognized as a public health menace, India’s poorest people will sacrifice their lives in safe public places at the sacrifice of dull sloganeering.
