New Delhi:
The death of a prominent businessman, reportedly after a fall while fleeing stray dogs, has reignited debate on what needs to be done to curb the stray dog menace on Indian streets, which has claimed several lives, including those of children.
Forty-nine-year-old Parag Desai, an executive director of Wagh Bakri Tea Group, died yesterday of a brain haemorrhage. A statement from the hospital said: “It was said that the patient fell after being chased by dogs, but apparently there were no dog bite marks on his body.”
After the incident, the debate on social media about stronger action against stray dogs resumed. Many mentioned examples from the Netherlands and the US and how they have tackled the stray dog problem.
What has the Netherlands done?
The Netherlands claims to have zero stray dogs. It achieved this through a CNVR program – Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return. Many local agencies have also increased taxes for owning store-bought dogs to encourage adoption from animal shelters. Dutch law requires that every dog must be neutered or sterilized. These procedures are financed by the government. There are fines for cruelty to dogs and there is also a special police force to act in such cases. Those concerned about an animal can contact the special unit. There are a large number of animal shelters where such animals can be housed. All of these shelters are ‘no-kill’ – meaning euthanasia is not an option. A large part of the Dutch population has a dog, and none of them walk the streets.
The American approach
The US also has a system that prevents the stray dog problem. Stray animals are housed in animal shelters, many of which are no-kill shelters. A no-kill animal shelter is an animal shelter where animals are not killed unless they are terminally ill. However, the US is now facing a problem: lack of space in animal shelters. This forces a large number of dogs to be euthanized every year. Some reports claimed that financial difficulties and uncertainty in the wake of the Covid pandemic had forced many owners to abandon pets.
The India problem
According to the World Health Organization, India currently accounts for 36 percent of the world’s rabies deaths. At least 30 percent of these victims are younger than 15 years old. Images of children being attacked by stray dogs often appear on social media, prompting calls for immediate steps to curb the stray dog problem. Dog bites in children often go unreported because they are afraid to speak out. In September last year, a 14-year-old boy died of rabies in Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. Shahvaz was bitten by his neighbor’s dog about two months ago, but did not tell the story at home out of fear.
Public anger
As gruesome videos of dog bite incidents have emerged on social media in recent years, calls for strong action have grown louder. Reports have often emerged of a confrontation between animal lovers and those who oppose their activities in public spaces. Pet owners have also faced backlash against dogs using communal facilities, such as lifts, following incidents of dog bites. Solutions proposed to the stray dog menace include euthanasia and intensified measures by local agencies to house stray dogs in animal shelters. Public anger against stray dogs has led to several incidents of animal cruelty.
What do laws say?
Before 2001, municipalities could euthanize stray dogs to keep public spaces safe. In 2001, the rules for birth control in animals (dogs) were introduced. These rules created a separate category called “street dogs” and said they must be sterilized and immunized through “the participation of animal welfare organizations, private individuals and local government.” These rules are silent on euthanizing stray dogs, except those that are “terminally ill” or “mortally injured.” It also said dogs captured for sterilization and vaccination “should be released into the same area.”
What are the challenges?
A solution to the stray dog problem in India, following the example of the steps being taken in the Netherlands, faces many challenges. The biggest of these is the financial crisis. Sterilizing dogs is expensive and cash-strapped municipalities often place it at the bottom of their priority list. Transferring dogs to animal shelters would require huge investments in building such shelters. The less desirable solution to euthanasia, advocated by some voices, faces other obstacles. Religious beliefs in India prohibit cruelty to animals and as a society there is unrest about accepting a solution such as killing an animal.
What is the way out
A sustainable solution to the stray dog problem would require far-sighted planning, significant government expenditure and public awareness exercises to make people aware of animal cruelty. For a developing country still battling poverty in a large part of its population, financing animal shelters and care remains a major challenge. However, choosing the option to euthanize stray animals can lead to cases of abuse and animal cruelty. Petitions from a local body in Kerala seeking permission to cull stray dogs have now been filed in the Supreme Court. The court said last month it will issue strong guidelines.