Open House: what steps should the administration take to check incidents of stray dogs mauling people?

Sterilisation of stray dogs required

The only solution to check dog bite cases is to sterilise the pariahs. But every time the civic bodies in Punjab start a campaign, it dies down without a whimper. Sanctions for the control and sterilisation of stray dogs is nothing but a cruel joke, regularly played by MCs in Punjab, but never is a holistic approach adopted to curb the menace of stray dogs. Animal rights activists have always been able to scuttle sterilisation drives on some pretext or the other, when the so-called dog lovers behave more like human haters. They have no feelings for children being mauled by these hordes of menacing mongrels, whose numbers keep increasing every year. The sterilisation option by some merciful mode like MIVOT (Minimally Invasive Vas Occlusion Technique), though a financial burden on the fund starved MCs, has been mooted instead of the much effective and cheaper culling method, to avoid cruelty to animals. But some dog lovers are always bent upon stonewalling even this more merciful method of keeping in control the growing population of canines. The earliest a sterilisation drive is re-started, the better it would be.

LJ Singh

Provide community dog shelters

Encourage and participate in community-driven initiatives to care for stray dogs. This may include organising feeding programmes or establishing community dog shelters. An example of this can be seen in my neighbourhood where the owner of the house feeds a stray dog daily and also keeps a bowl of water outside the house for stray dogs. This is the reason probably why the stray dogs do not harm anyone in our society. Vaccination against rabies should be given to stray dogs so that in case they bite someone, there is no harm.

Artist Buttar

Stray dogs need kennels for safety

In our city, the stray dog menace has reached an alarming proportion. The main cause is the indifferent attitude of authorities concerned in redressing the problem and the continuous feed given to stray dogs by the residents. As sterilisation is not a concrete solution, the stray dogs continue to maul people to death or bite them. The foremost step required by the administration is to set up kennels for stray dogs on the pattern of foreign countries that have already done so for the past many years. Secondly, awareness must be created by the administration about not feeding stray dogs regularly. Last, but not the least, stray dogs who have become dangerous should be eliminated as it is a safe step to safeguard the lives of residents.

Sanjay Chawla

Conduct census, relocate canines

To check the increasing incidents of mauling by stray dogs, the administration can implement a comprehensive approach combining both short-term and long-term measures. Short-term measures can include initiatives aimed at mass sterilisation and vaccination for stray dogs to reduce their population and prevent the spread of diseases like rabies, and conducting a comprehensive census to identify the hotspots of stray dog population and prioritise efforts accordingly. Establishing teams to capture and relocate stray dogs to shelters or designated areas can help manage their population. On the other hand, long-term measures should incorporate steps like the implementation of permanent Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes to focus on the ongoing sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs to gradually reduce their number over time. Moreover, building and maintaining shelters can provide a safe, healthy and ethical environment for these animals. Encouraging local citizens to adopt stray dogs and support rescue organisations will also contribute to lowering the stray dog population. Regulations should be enforced for pet ownership, including licensing and vaccination requirements. It is important to improve waste disposal practices to reduce food sources that attract stray dogs. Additionally, launching awareness campaigns can educate citizens about stray dog behaviour, safety precautions and the importance of animal welfare. Together, both these strategies can create a comprehensive solution to the challenges posed by stray dogs, both in rural as well as urban areas.

Kulwant Singh Phull

Form trained squads, relocate stray dogs

The rising population of stray animals, particularly dogs and cattle, has become a serious problem in both urban and rural areas. Every day, accidents, injuries and casualties are reported due to stray dog bites or animals roaming freely on roads and streets. Unfortunately, no effective measures have been implemented to address this growing menace. Under Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code (replaced by BNS Section 325), acts of cruelty against animals, such as culling, poisoning or maiming-are punishable by law. While these laws are crucial for preventing animal cruelty, they inadvertently contribute to the unchecked growth of stray animal population. This overpopulation has severe consequences, including frequent road accidents, extensive damage to crops, and an alarming rise in dog bite cases. Ostensibly, pet animals are generally well cared for and serve as loyal companions-such as ponies aiding trekkers in remote terrains and trained dogs helping to detect criminals or contraband items, but the stray animals present an altogether different picture. While pets are provided with proper shelter, timely food and vaccination by their owners, abandoned dogs and cattle in contrast are left to roam around in the streets/roads, scavenging for food among litter and waste. Notably, stray dogs often gather in large numbers around carcass dumping sites, where they can become hostile and attack passersby when startled or provoked. Recently, a tragic incident of a child being mauled to death by stray dogs besides several other cases of serious bites, underscores the urgency of the issue. Thus a coordinated national policy is desperately needed to manage the stray animal population. Instantly, the Animal Husbandry Department must take the lead in implementing effective measures to address the grievous problem. Key steps include establishing dedicated shelters for stray dogs, akin to cow shelters, and conducting large-scale sterilisation campaigns to prevent their population growth. At the local level, the authorities ought to form specialised squads to catch and relocate stray dogs for ensuring public safety. While compassion towards animals is important, the safety and security of the general public must remain a top priority. It is, therefore, essential to balance animal welfare with people's safety by adopting effective, humane and sustainable solutions to curb the menace of stray animals.

Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath

Set up helpline, offer free treatment

Tackling street dog menace has grown into one of the most challenging tasks before the local administration but unfortunately no concerted effort for seeking any sustainable solution is being made by the government. It is no more a social issue now as the public is prone to serious injuries and even death due to frequent incidents of dog bites almost everywhere. The government should declare it as a law and order problem and necessary action should be taken accordingly. Meanwhile, to check their further growth, the administration should initiate a sterilisation programme with every dog in the street being covered on a war footing, besides undertaking vaccination drive against rabies and other common diseases afflicting dogs. Local NGOs engaged in animal welfare should be taken into confidence before initiating any major action. No dog should be left outside on streets, instead they should be shifted to shelter houses built for them. The law relating to keeping pet dogs should be strictly implemented by making the public aware about it. The local health authorities should prepare themselves to deal with dog bite cases and make round the clock provision for treatment to the victims, free of cost. Adequate publicity with helpline numbers can be arranged through all available media so that people can avail of this facility.

Jagdish Chander

Don’t allow strays to roam around

Dog bite cases are on the rise with many incidents being reported daily some of which are of a serious nature. These stray animals attack in unison and pin down the person. The government has failed to handle the situation because there are no shelter homes for street dogs and they don't bother about the seriousness of the bite for even a small bite can lead to infection like rabies and tetanus. Children can't play in the park for fear of dogs, elders can't move around because of the aggressive behaviour of the animals. All pets and street dogs should be vaccinated and registered. A breed that is of an aggressive nature should not be allowed to roam around in the domestic areas. It is the duty of the government to catch stray dogs, keep them in shelter homes and focus on controlling their population. Vaccines should be available free of cost in all the dispensaries and government hospitals.

Shashi Kiran

Check unwanted breeding of strays

Stray dogs have always been one of the biggest problems on the streets. Many young kids have stopped playing in the streets because of the terror created by these creatures. From little innocent kids to an elderly person, no one is safe. Just the previous year, a 65-year-old woman endured an attack by a pack of aggressive stray dogs. The brutal incident left her with over 20 injuries, necessitating extensive hospitalisation as she fought to recover from the physical and emotional trauma of that terrifying experience. The incident has shaken the administration and the common masses who are now petrified to move around in the streets. This is one of the many occurrences that threaten the state and its residents because the issue seems to be unfortunate and unpreventable. However, appropriate steps and initiatives can curb the issue in less time. Constructing a dog shelter and large grounds is the first thing that comes to one's mind but it isn't that simple. Vasectomy and neutering are two surgical procedures that can stop the unwanted breeding of dogs. A proper vasectomy of every stray dog is necessary to prevent the growth of more and more strays. The second step is to put all the remaining dogs in shelter homes. Their care by experts is the government's responsibility. In addition to this, helpline numbers of expert veterinarians should be given for the public to report any dog bite case immediately to save them from rabies. Lastly, people should be encouraged to go out in groups of more than three people as well as carry some sort of stick or melee weapons to scare away the stray dogs and protect themselves. For the situation at hand, this seems to be the only way to curb this problem.

Lakshit Jindal

Social organisations should come forward

The menace of stray dogs mauling people to death or biting them in urban as well as rural areas has put the people in dilemma over negligence on the part of the administration in taking the necessary steps. The sterilisation of stray dogs, catching them and leaving them some distance away from the residential areas has become a concept of the past. The

present need of the time is that social organisations that are interested in taking care of animals like the People for Animals India should come forward to take responsibility so that people can feel safe from the stray dog menace.

Rajat Kumar Mohindru

Food wastage helps in feeding stray dogs

The estimated number of stray dogs in India is 6 crore 20 lakh, double that of domesticated dogs. Apart from physical injury, a major risk is of rabies with stray dogs being a primary source of transmission. An estimated 20,000 persons die of rabies every year accounting for 36 per cent of global deaths and 65 per cent of such deaths in South East Asia. India has 70 per cent of the global rabies cases. Over the last three years, there were one crore 60 lakh dog bite cases in India alone. The cultural tradition of feeding dogs, poor garbage management making waste food available for stray dogs and the attitude of animal lovers, all add to the problem. Lack of comprehensive sterilisation and vaccination programme add to the magnitude of the problem. Recently, a six-year-old boy was mauled by stray dogs to death. With due regard to the feelings of animal and dog lovers, one wonders what they should be feeling about this tragedy. Now what steps should the administration take to counter this canine terror? First of all, everyone concerned should think and find out why we don't find a single stray dog when we visit Europe, America or Canada and most developed countries, learn from them. There should be comprehensive vaccination and sterilisation programme strictly enforced all over the country. There should be dog shelters like the ones for cows. The administration and dog lovers should look after these animals. Treatment of a person bitten by a stray dog should be the sole legal responsibility of the local self- government department. There should be a record of domestic dogs so that owners do not abandon them at any time. Lastly, there should be some strict law to fix responsibility for stray dogs to hold people accountable.

Dr Bholla Singh Sidhu

QUESTION for next week

Commuters are hassled with protesters blocking highways and railway tracks time and again to get their demands fulfilled. What steps the administration should take to prevent such protests?

Suggestions in not more than 200 words can be sent to jalandhardesk@tribunemail.com by Thursday (February 6)