Stray Dogs

 “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.