No end to stray dog menace in city
Packs of hungry dogs sifting through heaps of garbage and in dustbins installed alongside roads is a common sight in the city. Besides being an unpleasant sight, hungry canines become a threat to commuters if, they feel, that they are being interrupted.
Poor implementation of a comprehensive dog-sterilization program has led to a rapid increase in the stray dog population. “The administration needs to take immediate action to address this issue. If the growing population of dogs is controlled, accidents and dog-bite incidents can be prevented,” said Baljit Singh, a concerned resident.
When residents complain of growing problem of stray dogs, causing inconvenience, health risks, and safety threats, they are not wrong as incidents of hungry dogs attacking humans, especially children, are usually reported in winter months.
Despite efforts by animal lovers to feed dogs, the sheer number of canines makes it impossible to feed them all.
Around a decade ago, the government had initiated a scheme to register pet dogs, with the registration fee intended to fund sterilization programs for stray dogs. However, as it was not implemented with sincerity, it failed to get started.
Among other problems caused by stray dogs, their excreta on roads is also a major obstacle in maintaining clean and hygienic surroundings. Some owners even let their pet dogs roam freely on roads and litter them with stools.
A section of society feels that though canines are part of the world, the city administration must set some rules so that others are not inconvenienced. Sarika Sharma, a homemaker, suggested, “In most first world countries, people have pets, but nobody brings them to streets or parks for answering the call of nature.” She said seeing dog excreta in front of your house is not a pleasant way to start your day when you open your front door in the morning.
Residents have requested the administration to take immediate action to address the stray dog menace by implementing effective sterilization programs and enforcing responsible pet ownership practices to ensure a cleaner, safer, and healthier environment for all residents.
