FPJ – OPED Stray Dogs
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The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated .- Mahatma Gandhi
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Advancing civilisations or declining humanity?
By Tanya Mahajan
A recent article in the media reported that a county in south-western China has killed as many as 50,000 dogs in a government-ordered campaign following the deaths of three local people from rabies. This brutal policy not only underscores
deep weaknesses in China‘s healthcare system, that is unable to find more humane methods to control rabies, but also highlights the extraordinarily crude, cold-blooded and lazy way for the government to deal with an epidemic disease. Wiping out the dogs shows these government officials didn’t do their jobs right in protecting people from rabies in the first place.”
With the Government in India, and Mumbai in particular, demonstrating extraordinary haste in emulating anything that China does, this is one instance where we should strongly condemn this barbaric act of China, as well as re-examine how we as a society are coping, understanding and evolving ways of dealing with similar problems in India.
A culture of co-existence
From the very earliest civilisations in India, there has been a culture of co-existence of people with animals and nature, often expressed not only as affection, but also as worship and reverence, and this thread of co-existence is still largely intact today with people feeding left-over food to stray dogs and other animals, feeding birds outside temples, and animal shelters (panrapoles) being run by social and religious organisations.
Conflict and mis-management in cities
However, in the crowded cities, we are increasingly seeing situations of human-animal conflict, as seen in the recent outcry against pigeons in Mumbai and the frequent demands to control the stray dog population. Such situations are caused either due to the lack of a suitable policy to control the animals, or a lack of implementation of existing policies and rules, and more often due to irresponsible behaviour by people themselves, such as littering and open dustbins throughout the city, and feeding of birds in non-designated areas. Instead of understanding and addressing such problems at the root, the Government, however, usually adopts a knee-jerk reaction based on the most recent outcry caused by an adverse incident, in order to demonstrate that the authorities are taking some action, and also to hide their deficiencies in tackling the overall problem.
Hence it is extremely critical that we understand fully all aspects of the stray dogs issue in Mumbai, including the role that we, as citizens, have to play.
Understanding the basics about dog control and sterilisation
For the removal of stray dogs from their territories, there are specific laws, rules and guidelines set down by the Animal Birth Control ( Dogs ) Rules, 2001, by the Union Govt, and also a judgement on this subject in Writ Petition No1596 of 1998 by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court.
(For details on the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, see http://www.karmayog.com/dogs/dogcontrolrules.htm
For details on the Writ Petition No1596 of 1998 by the Hon’ble Bombay High Court, see http://www.karmayog.com/dogs/hcorder1988.htm )
The Bombay High Court has laid down guidelines for dealing with stray dogs and the methodology for their population control. Dogs cannot be labelled as nuisance and therefore cannot be picked up from their territories and abandoned somewhere else. This is an unsustainable and short-sighted approach that transfers the problem from one location to another, causing further problems, instead of providing any solution. The only way to deal with the stray dog population is to have them sterilised and vaccinated, and then released in their original territory.
What is needed build a Successful Dog Control Program?
To build a successful Dog Control Program, four major components are needed: Rabies Control, Dog Population Management, Habitat Control and Pet Registration.
Each of these components must be complete and functional programs in themselves, capable of making significant contributions to an overall dog control program. However, the true secret to success lies not in their individual strength, but in their combined strength. By combining these programs together into a well planned comprehensive Dog Control Program, it becomes possible to provide a viable long term solution to the rabies and dog population problems.
Some observations on Rabies Control and Population Management:
- Successful dog population management requires mass sterilization.
- However, even if you are able to sterilize every single dog, they can still transmit rabies if they are not vaccinated.
- Rabies prevention can only be effectively achieved through vaccination.
- If you vaccinate the entire dog population, you can eventually prevent rabies completely, but will never have affected the dog population issue at all.
Need to Achieve a 70% Critical level:
In dog population management, the concept and benefits of an area based Animal Birth Control program may be easier to understand if we compare it to a “vaccination” against the disease of overpopulation. We know scientifically that over 70% of the dog population, which includes any unsupervised or partially supervised dogs in any given demographical area, must be sterilized in order to stop the population increases. By sterilizing over 70% of an area’s dog population the birth rate will be affected sufficiently to bring about a population decrease within that area.
The 70% concept is extremely insightful into success or failure as it relates to pet overpopulation, as well as rabies control and should be completely understood by participating NGO’s, government officials and the general public.
In Mumbai, numerous Animal Welfare NGOs are working actively in the areas of Rabies Control and Stray Dog Population Management. A list of some of the NGOs working in Mumbai is attached. These NGOs undertake a wide variety of roles that include providing animal ambulances, Animal Rights & Cruelty incl. legal causes; Education & Awareness; First Aid; Hospitalisation; Immunisation; Pet & Stray Adoption; Animal Shelter; Spay/Neuter/Sterilisation Program (abc = animal birth control); Panjrapoles (no-kill shelters for cattle); etc.
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What you can do:
The following table lists some of the Animal NGOs situated in and around Mumbai. Find the one closest to where you stay or work, and volunteer your services or support them through donations in cash or kind.
Table 1
|
No. |
Name and Locality |
Contact Details: |
|
1 |
Ahimsa Hospital, Malad West |
28802682 / 28821972 |
|
2 |
AIAWA – All India Animal Welfare Association, Mahalaxmi |
2309 4077 |
|
3 |
Animal Lovers Association Society, Goregaon West |
28763856 |
|
4 |
Animal Lovers in Mumbai |
Lyla lyla@thehindu.co.in |
|
5 |
Animal Welfare Association Kharghar, Navi Mumbai |
2756 2275 / 3109 7720 |
|
6 |
Bahena Trust, Mulund W |
25673838 / 25654949 |
|
7 |
(BSPCA) Bombay Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals |
24137518 / 24135285 |
|
8 |
IDA – Animal Birth Control & Health Care Centre, Deonar |
25566795 |
|
9 |
In Defence of Animals, Dadar |
24142195 – 24143412 – 22870616 |
|
10 |
Karuna for Animals in Distress, Andheri West |
26701413 – Emergency number for ambulance: 9819 100 100 |
|
11 |
PALS – Plants and Animal Lovers Society, Colaba |
22832955 |
|
12 |
PAWS – Plant & Animals Welfare Society , Bhandup West |
2591 8324 |
|
13 |
PAWS (Plant and Animal Welfare Society) Dombivli (East) |
95251 – 471996 ( 8 to 10 pm) |
|
14 |
People For Animals, Fort |
56242112 info@pfamumbai.org |
|
15 |
Save Our Strays, Andheri |
9820141310 |
|
16 |
Shree Jivdaya Pariwar Charitable Trust, Shelter in Vapi |
Mumbai Office at Masjid West tcpl@bom5.vsnl.net.in |
|
17 |
SPAN – Society for the Protection of Animals and Nature, Mira Road (East). |
28112462, 28908945 |
|
18 |
Stray Dog Lovers Association / Voice of Animals in Distress, Vashi, Navi Mumbai |
27822784 |
|
19 |
Thane SPCA |
shakuntalamajumdar@yahoo.com office number 9322271966 |
|
20 |
(WSD) Welfare Of Stray Dogs, Chinchpokli |
23060275 |
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What to do if you are faced with an Unfriendly Dog:
There is no simple answer, nor set formula to solve the problem of unfriendly dogs. However, most dogs tend to conform to predictable rules of behaviour. This information is designed to help people to understand a dog’s behaviour towards strangers when the dog feels the need to protect its owner or territory or when it feels threatened. When you are faced with a difficult situation, this knowledge could help you to avoid trouble.
· Never run past a strange dog, or walk quickly away from it. This may make it chase you and you could get bitten as a result.
· Always walk or back away slowly, facing the dog as you do so – until you are sure you are safe.
· Try not to show fear. Keep calm walk away slowly and speak firmly to the dog.
· Do not stare at the dog. Staring is a threat – a dog may read it as a challenge – and attack.
· Do not allow children to approach dogs they do not know.
· A growl is as good as “Leave me alone”.
· Dogs can tell if you like them, – and most can be bribed! A biscuit in your pocket will convince most dogs that you are a friend.
Please remember that dogs rarely attack, so don’t be over anxious of every dog that you meet. Most are scared about getting into a fight but like to act tough on their own territory. Behave in a friendly and confident manner and you will help lessen their fear.
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Dog related services by BMC:
1) For Citizens in Distress:
Register your complaint online at www.ocms.praja.org
The MCGM online management complaint system (OCMS) has a code MSC02 for Nuisance by stray dogs, monkeys, etc.
Or Call the Civic Helpline (for emergency complaints) at 1916
2) For Stray Dogs in Distress:
Call the existing 4 city-wide BMC Dog-licensing departments (details in Table 2)
Or Call the Civic Helpline (for emergency complaints) at 1916
Call the Animal Welfare Organisation closest to you, that offers rescue / aid services. (Details in Table 1)
3) Dog Licensing Establishment: Nowadays in order to abate nuisances caused by stray dogs and to control the spread of diseases such as rabies, stray dogs are caught by dogs licensing establishments, immunized and sterilized by Animal Welfare NGOs, and then released back in the area where they were caught after an identification mark is put on the dog. The address and telephone nos. of the BMC Dog Licensing Units:-
Table 2
|
Zone |
Address |
Person |
Telephone |
|
City |
Dog Licensing Est. |
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