Everyday thousands of cases are registered in hospitals
regarding people being bitten by stray dogs. Often seen near garbage dumpsters,
the stray dogs are mostly perceived as a menace and derogatory to the urban
surroundings. Yes, it is true that people are bitten by stray dogs and at the
most they have to take rabies shots. But the atrocities that the stray dogs
face are rarely reported. At present, the scenario has improved partially for
the strays but the gore acts of violence against the stray dogs are still at
large. Dogs have been perceived as ‘man’s best friend’ since time immemorial
then why are they the victim of sadistic pleasure of the humans. Are we humans
so lost at beautifying our surroundings that we forget that stray dogs are also
dogs and most importantly living beings?
Most stray dogs found in Asia and Africa belong to the
ancient canine race known as the Pariah Dogs and have been the residing in both
the continents since people started settling in. It is estimated that the breed
has survived in India for around 14000 years and have evolved into a scavenging
species living on the wastes of the humans. They are close relatives of the
Spitz and Australian Dingo. The Pariah breed is not very popular among breeders
and hence, people don’t even consider it for adoption since they are just the
‘desis’. Pariah dogs are known be a gentle yet a ‘rough & tough’ breed and
are capable watch dogs as well. Though they might not be as elegant as the
German Shephard but their beauty only lies in the eyes of the beholder. Israel
is probably the only country where the Pariah is a recognized breed and are
specially bred.
In urban settlements, strays are mostly mongrels i.e. mix
breeds of the Pariah and other pure breed dogs. Besides being scavengers, they
are also kept as pets by rural residents and urban poor communities. In urban
India, the stray population has been increasing due to the exponential amount of
garbage found in urban settings which is also raising the issue of
possibilities of people contracting rabies. There is a general sense of stigma
in our society regarding these gentle creatures. Festivals turn into nightmares
for these poor dogs. Drenching strays with colored water during Holi really
affects their coat as these colors are made with chemicals. Similarly, tying
firecrackers is another sadistic act which often ends with seriously injuring
and traumatizing the dog or even death. Similarly, unnecessarily beating dogs,
pouring acid, maiming their body parts are some common ways of humans to show
power or just for fun. But the same people will probably kill someone who
commit the same activities on their beloved ones. The question that arises is
how the dog lovers can protect the strays?
Under the Indian laws, animal cruelty is an offence under
Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and Section 429 of the
Indian Penal Code which is punishable with imprisonment and fine. Likewise,
criminal intimidation, and criminally intimidating animal welfare volunteers is
a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code (specifically, Section 503 of
Indian Penal Code read with Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code 1860).
As per Indian law, street dogs cannot be beaten or driven
away. The only humane, legal and scientific way of dealing with street dogs is
to get them vaccinated and sterilized under Animal Birth Control Programme
(ABC). Under this program, stray dogs can be picked up, neutered, vaccinated
against rabies and released in the respective areas from where they had been
captured, which is in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules 2001
framed, under Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and
as per the orders of Honorable Supreme Court of India. Government of India
notified the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, under the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 vide the Gazette of India: Extra Ordinary Part II,
Sec. 3, sub section II dated 24th December 2001 to implement sterilization and
vaccination of street/community dogs to control the dog population.
There is a specific bar against dislocating dogs, since the
same tends to interfere with and jeopardize the area-wise animal birth control.
For the area-wise sterilization program mandated by law, dogs have to be
returned back to their original habitat after sterilization and immunization.
These dogs then tend to fight off other, newer, possibly unsterilized and
unvaccinated dogs from entering their territories, since dogs are highly
territorial in nature. Dislocation of street dogs has time and again proven to
be counter-productive and only favors the entry of other non-sterilized street
dogs into the area, which will not only be unknown to you but also to those who
tend to the area’s street dogs, thus raising more cases of man-animal conflict.
To conclude, dogs are a gift of nature to mankind and that
should be respected. We don’t have to invest any money on strays nor do they have
any materialistic desires from us. The dogs are only hungry for some love and
compassion. The winds of change can already be seen through organizations like
Frendicoes, Jaagruti, The Welfare of Street Dogs (WSD) etc. which are working
day and night towards improving the conditions of the strays. So, next time
when you are out, just look at the strays and observe their hunger for your
love and remember, a little compassion never hurt anyone.
Sources:
http://forcechange.com/34340/stop-brutal-killings-of-stray-dogs-in-india/