“Offenders can be reported to the local animal protection group and police station and a case filed under the above-referenced sections. Punishment is a fine of Rs 2000 and/or a jail term of up to five years. Stray animals may not be used for research.”
Like many
who grew up in India, I am very afraid of dogs due to incidences during
childhood. I look at the above statement on stray dogs with some indignance.
Even in a
small hamlet like this, there are about 30 odd stray dogs. Assuming 25% of
these are adult female dogs and will reproduce twice a year, each time with a
litter of a minimum of 3 puppies – the yearly addition to this number is
approximately 50 . The number literally doubles every year to say the least.
These dogs
always roam around in groups of five or six , almost invariably with loud howling
and barking – walking around a group or
near a group is very scary for the likes of me – which is a high percentage of the population.
Sometimes
during the night, they give out an eerie sound – which is manifested many times
due to the facts it is a very very quiet then and the number of the dogs as
always is not one, but many . Once this episode starts it goes on for hours
some times.
They pee and
poop everywhere – with no one to clean after them, it leaves a strong stench all over the place.
It gets worse during rainy season.
Once a group
of six fighting dogs went under a running auto and toppled it. Thankfully there
were no passengers. The driver was hurt badly and the auto was damaged
Several
children cycling have been chased and have been hurt, falling down from the
cycle in fear .
None of
these dogs are vaccinated and that amplifies the fear.
Recently one
dog with rabies bit seven people, a couple of cows and a couple of goats
The village
panchayat says they have orders from court that they should not capture these
dogs.
On an
average the primary health care center reports seven dog bites every day in and
around the village. In other areas of the state recently there were several
stories of several stray dogs attacking people and causing severe injury to
them
AND we all
know a dog bite treatment is a pain to undergo
Some people
love dogs, agreed. These people or the honourable court, or organizations like
peta – who love these beings so much, should take the initiative to adopt these
dogs and ensure they live in a healthy environment, are given the required
timely vaccines , fed and cared properly . Doesn’t help the common man, if
these people sit in places where these nuisances are not present and charade
about loving and protecting dogs.
Requesting
them to protect the fellow human beings from the stray dogs roaming freely. We
also have the right to live peacefully.
