Also see Stray Dogs - Recommendations to Municipal Corporations 
                  Pro-killing stray dog responses - anti-sterilisation 
                  Pro-stray dog responses e.g. sterilisation, cleanliness 
              Committees for stray dogs  
              Gandhiji's writings on the stray dog issue, in his paper Young India 
              Animal Birth Control responsible for decline in human rabies cases 
              WHO technical report on rabies Seris931-part1 (PDF file) 
              Nov 22: Tues - meeting reg. stray dogs 
              Animal Welfare Organisations - Dogs 
              Dog Control Rules, 2001 
              Dog Population Management & Canine Rabies Control 
              MRTI probe into stray dog control issue

Stray Dogs

Sep 1: two children killed by stray dogs

Stree Mukti Sanghtana
31 Shramik,Royal crest, L.T. V. Rd. Dadar (East), mumbai 400014
Tel. 55745848, 24174381

Recently two children were killed by stray dogs near Deonar Dumping ground. BMC
has expressed its inability to take any action in this matter. Stree Mukti
Sanghatana has organised a meeting of citizens to discuss this burning issue on
1st september 2005 at 5 p.m. at the above address. All are cordially invited.

Sharada Sathe
Secretary
Stree Mukti Sanghatana

response 1: stray dogs

response 6: children killed by street dogs

It was terrible hearing about the children. While I would like further details before I can make any specific comment, I can only say that all of us who are interested in finding a solution to the issue of street dogs must be aware of certain facts.

One: the killing of dogs on the street has been going on for over a hundred years. In Chennai, for example, first records of dogs being killed (usually shot by the Collector or the Chief of Police) goes back to 1860.

Two: If the reason for this is to control either the number of dogs on the street or the incidence of rabies in humans, it has been a spectacular failure since both have shown a steady rise in spite of greater numbers of dogs being killed each year.

Three: Whereever the killing of dogs have stopped and replaced with a proper sterilize-vaccinate-and-release programme, the incidence of rabies and the number of dogs on the street have shown a decline. In Chennai, the killing stopped completely on a city-wide basis in Sept 1996. From a high of 120 rabies deaths in 1996, the number of deaths has come down to FIVE in 2003. Results in Jaipur, Kalimpong, Vizag, Bangalore and other places where there is an ABC programme in place show similar results.

The attached paper will give more details.

With warm regards.

Dr. S. Chinny Krishna

response 7: children and stray dogs

IT IS SAD TO READ OF THIS INCIDENT, BUT IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SUCH A THING HAS HAPPENED. THE DOG MENACE HAS INCREASED IN ALL ASPECTS. RABIES,
LEPTOPYROSIS ETC. EVEN THE GAS SUPPLIERS, POSTMEN, GUESTS & FRIENDS REFUSE TO ENTER AREAS WHERE THERE ARE A PACK OF DOGS.

I DREAD TO WALK TOO, AROUND A PACK OF DOGS. ONCE BITTEN - TWICE SHY/AFRAID.

THE STRAY DOGS HAVE REALLY BECOME A THREAT, BUT THE ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVISTS WILL DO NOTHING MUCH ABOUT IT.

OF COURSE, THERE ARE CASES WHERE HUMAN BEINGS ALSO ILL TREAT ANIMALS IN THE WORST POSSIBLE WAY.

THE ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVITY GROUPS FIGHT FOR THE RIGHT OF THE ANIMALS, BUT RARELY COME IN SUPPORT OF HUMAN RIGHTS. I AM RIGHT - YOU ARE WRONG IS THE END OF IT ALL.

THAT I RECKON IS THE CYCLE OF "STEP INTO MY BOOTS".

GOOD LUCK
JOHN VENDOKARAN

response 9- dogs also have the right to live

God has given right to  live, produce childs to every living species.

We have no rights to kill or sterlize any one without its permission.  so sterilization of dogs is a crime.

and if any one is dying due to dogs, it may be the wish of GOD.
 
RAJU TAKUR

response 10: stray dogs - from ex-hospital manager of Bombay SPCA

I was the hospital manager of the Bombay SPCA including the BSDP Hospital for Animals, Parel, Mumbai for almost 10 years. It was during that time that the Animal Birth Control/Anti-Rabies (ABC/AR) program was started in Mumbai.

>From the very beginning, we had maintained that the biggest cause of stray dog problem in Mumbai was the heaps and heaps of uncleared garbage that is found in every street in this city. This garbage provides food for not only stray dogs but also stray cats, rats and pigs, thus spreading disease and also causing the conflict between stray dogs and people.

The BMC has to put a stop to this and ensure that people who are found littering the streets are heavily fined, thus ensuring that they do not do so in future.

Also, the ABC/AR program, if it is to succeed, has to be greatly increased, to keep abreast with the number of births that are taking place.

I would like to hear comments on this.

With regards,

Supriya Bose

response 11: stray dogs - end-point to be decided by nature or mankind?

Here are my views. An acquantaince whom I knew was very actively involved in sterilising dogs in 2002-2004. He said since the dogs will end up giving birth sooner or later, the tribe of strays will increase, and too many of these strays have no food to eat, they end up fighting and killing one another, hence to put an end to it we can sterilise them. I was not in favor of that move and didn't join that cause. I have no idea how successful their cause was. I did not keep track of it.

But what I do wonder now is- isn't there any other solution to this problem? Yes strays do cause menace and children getting  killed by them is horrific but at the same time who are we to disrupt nature's balance? By making sure that they don't reproduce, aren't we going against the laws of nature? Can we think of any other solutions?

Mamta

response 12: stray dogs - human, enviro & animal rights experts needed
I am referring to the case of the children killed by stray dogs at the Deonar dumping grounds. As a mother of a child I can thoroughly and truly feel the anguish that the children have gone through. I pray that no child or adult has to face this destiny ever.

However I must also congratulate Stree Mukti Sanghtana on taking up this issue and addressing it with the public. It is no doubt the most important issue to be addressesd as on today. I will hope that as a fair and just NGO they will take into account all the sides of the issue, like why two children as young as them had to be in a dumping ground in the first place, whether we have any social responsibility towards that end, why there are stray dogs roaming that area, since strays will not find any garbage dump interesting if vermiculture is practised there, and why the dumping ground is open to people and animals alike. I also hope they will  have on the panel,human, environment and animal rights experts together. Because the absence of any one of them would leave the discussion lopsided.

And then when this issue is dealt with, and all stray dogs have been verbally sent to the gallows, I will hope Stree Mukti Sanghtana will also call for city wide stirs against rampant truck driving which has squashed a 3 year old baby girl yesterday at Mira Road and the police came only after the SP was contacted, the Municipality showed up only 5 and a half hours after the incident, and the issues of young girls being abducted in broad daylight, and deaths of street children by starving..the death list by accidents is endless, but unlike the stray dog incident which is a "stray" incident, these are happening daily everywhere.

I wish the meeting to be a success.
For Thane SPCA
Shakuntala Majumdar

response 13: stray dogs - was it really due to them?

As soon as we come to know about the dog bite incident, we send out team over there & we investigated this matter & we did not find a substantial fact of Dog bite to the children. Out Ambulance went there & have picked up 14 dogs for sterilization.

Please note that, as soon as this incident reported to Vice President of IN DEFENCE OF ANIMALS, Ms. Fizzah Shah; immediately all the 14 Stray Dogs from Deonar Dumping Ground area have been sterilized at IDA’s Dog Center & they
have been vaccinated against Rabies Virus. 

Thanking you,
Sincerely yours
Fizzah Shah: Vice President: IDA

response 14: Stray Dogs

It has been interesting to read the regular mails about the stray dog issue on karmayog over the last few months. I for one am definitely better informed about this pressing civic problem than I used to be. However I do feel there is a general tendency to react emotionally rather than rationally on this subject.

The latest development, of a citizens' meeting to discuss the problem, prompted me to write this  message. Any normal human being must feel outrage and horror at the tragic death of children caused by stray dogs. However, in the inevitable search for a scapegoat, responsible citizens should not overlook the extent to which each of us is to blame. Since dogs eat garbage, large amounts of garbage quite simply translates into larger numbers of dogs.
Moreover most social workers will have noticed that people living in slums often encourage stray dogs by keeping them as pets. If we, as socially conscious citizens of Mumbai, consent to the proliferation of garbage and slums, we are responsible for creating the huge stray dog population as well. Moreover the BMC declaring its helplessness is simply not acceptable, particularly as the BMC actually added to the garbage in this case by leaving cattle carcasses at the site.

Some years ago, when the Thane Municipal Corporation was regularly killing stray dogs by poisoning, a little boy was mauled and almost killed by a pack of stray dogs. I am glad to read mails today about the Thane Municipal Corporation having high targets for sterilising stray dogs. Perhaps they should offer their insight to the BMC and concerned citizens so a permanent solution can be found.

Mandar Dhamdhere
Thane

response 15: stray dogs
I am a 17 year old, college going student . I am an animal-lover and regularly interact with stray dogs.

Till date i have never been bitten. All the street dogs in my area have been sterilised and none of them cause any harm or nuisance. 
Coming to the issue of the incident where some dogs attacked humans, I think if the former had been sterilised, this incident would not have taken place.

Thus I feel that sterilisation is the key to such issues.
Regards,
Prachi Vakharia

Response 16: Stray Dogs - here's a detailed FAQ

response 17: Stray Dog Incident in Mumbai

I live in Bangalore not Mumbai but the problems faced with stray dogs are universal. We have several stray dogs in our area  and they hang out in vacant lots where a lot of waste and rubbish has accumulated. I do think the issue of waste disposal and sterilisation has to be simultaneously handled by the responsible authorities to get rid of the menace.

While we are are on this subject, I wish animal lovers wouldn't get overemotional on this issue. While I am all for animal rights, I
definitely want the right for my children and me to be able to walk freely on the streets without being bitten or mauled by a rabid dog.

I also wish dog owners would put their dogs on leashes while taking them for a walk and not allow them to roam around freely. I do like dogs but from a distance!

Regards
Priya Anand
MCC
Bangalore

response 18: stray dogs

Yes, Sterilised dogs become less aggressive.

Anuradha Sawhney

Peta India

Response 19: stray dogs - My support, my ideas

Namashkaar to all Karmayog members..

I'm a development professional currently working with a Government Department in Chhattisgarh. I've been a member of Karmayog since past 5 months or so. Though i've never worked in Mumbai, i like reading the responses and feel impressed by the kind of enthusiasm the members show in addressing social and developmental issues.

Upon the stray dog issue, I feel solutions are much above the level in which the municipal corporations usually think on. Well, I, being an animal-lover myself, have always felt strongly upon the fact that these Indian stray dogs are really intelligent and smart, apart from being affectionate and extremely loyal. The poor creatures are always seen as a source of menace and their innate appreciable characteristics are never considered.

People would rather feel proud moving around with a lap pomerian or daschund than any of our local ones. While I can bet our local ones are any day at par with the Videshi Boxers or Alsatians in being watch-dogs. Moreover, they look much better (when healthy)!! And what's better than the fact that they can survive all the worse conditions of Indian living. The Indian police also must seriously consider including them in their team of search dogs. training them would certainly make them more useful.

well, i dont know if my mail sounds amusing, but I have conviction in saying that they are not just 'menace', but of serious use and very much a part of our lives.

Thanks for reading. I welcome honest remarks on this.

response 20: Stray Dogs - perspective of an American in Mumbai

Sterilization:I understand people's religious views against sterilization or interfering in mother nature, but if you ever hope to live in a city that is not overrun by dogs, then you must put some of your own personal issues aside and think of the greater good of your city and community.

• Sterilization and/or capture are the only real options for these animals.  It is difficult often times to catch the pack dogs to sterilize them. But when they are caught, they should be sterilized and then kept in animal shelters where they can be either trained or just kept away from the public where they could harm people. Through mass sterilization campaigns you will find the incidence of strays decline year after year. Killing of dogs does not generally affect the overall population.  And random sterilization will also have little effect. 

A distinction needs to be made between the neighborhood stray dogs and the PACKS of dogs.  the neighborhood stray dogs are usually very docile and gentle and are only looking for attention and love.  If a dog puts its leg on you, it is wanting your attention, not wanting to hurt you.  Feeding these dogs has absolutely NO impact on whether they attack humans or not.  A well fed and well treated dog is 99% more likely to treat ALL passerbys gently.

On the other hand, the packs of stray dogs are dangerous and scary  - even to those of us who handle strays often.  The precense of these dogs does not depend on people giving food - in my experience the wild dogs will not even accept food from people and run away when approached (or bark and cause a ruckus). These dogs are very wild, raised in packs and continue to live in packs, much like their ancestors, the wolf.  And yes, these dogs are typically located around garbage dumps.

• the more you abuse animals, the more aggressive and unpredictable they become
• Once an animal has recieved constant beatings from passerbys, they tend to get shy and sometimes aggressive when they are scared. 
• Think about your own actions - how do you react when you are scared? 

• for example, there used to be 12 stray dogs in my little lane of 5 buildings. They were all sterilized many years back and now, through normal life on the roads, there are only 2 dogs left.

This is not just an "Animal NGO" issue. This is your issue. If you see a liter of pups born in your neighborhood, please call your local animal NGO and make them aware that there are new pups that need to be sterilized. If you notice a female dog in the area that often gives birth, again call your local group to have that dog sterilized.  YOU have to start to take responsibility for YOUR enviornment. You cannot always sit back and blame the bad state of affairs on the government or others. It is your responsibility as well.

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response 21: stray dogs!

I see that this stray dogs is quite a big topic these days. And I also see many misconceptions amongst the general public.

There is a rule for any living species ­ the population will always be a little more than the food supply available. Even if all the stray dogs in the Mumbai municipal areas were killed or removed, their places would be taken by dogs from the surroundings. Killing has been tried in some municipalities and has failed miserably for this reason. Therefore Ranjit Gadgil¹s solution is likely to fail even though it sounds perfect. The number of dogs is dependent on food available and not on how or if they are removed. Even if the stray dog population did artificially go down, the rat population would go up since the dogs feed on rats too.

Sterilization of dogs will not dramatically reduce numbers but will reduce the suffering from starvation and disease.

Those who really detest dogs can help reduce their numbers just by finding ways to reduce the street garbage. In Pondicherry they cleaned up a section of the city and the number of stray dogs automatically reduced. This means every citizen in Mumbai is responsible for the stray dog population.

In reference to Prachi¹s statement about sterilized dogs not biting and Vinay¹s question regarding it ­ there are 2 factors. Dogs competing for a mate are more territorial and bark and fight more. Sterilisation makes dogs calmer and they are usually vaccinated against rabies, which makes them safer.

Before we comment on dogs being in excess and upsetting the balance we should also look at what other species is doing the same, even to a greater extent.

However after reading all the mails it seems that this is one issue where everyone wants the same end goal ­ the dog lovers want to reduce the numbers so that the dogs don¹t suffer and the dog haters want to reduce the numbers so that they don¹t suffer. The dog lovers are already doing their part by doing the sterilizations. Dog haters, please do your part.

Nandita Shah
SHARAN

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Response 22: stray dogs -- vinay's stray thoughts

Some random thoughts on issues such as this stray dog one.

 

How would the world be if the numbers increase or decrease?

The estimate of stray dogs currently in Mumbai is two lakhs.

What would it be like if the numbers were to become five or twenty lakhs?

What would it be like if the numbers were to become five thousand or twenty thousand?

Accordingly, which seems to be the range that is optimal or agreeable or desirable?

Accordingly, what are the different ways to move towards those numbers?

 

Who should be the ones to decide this?

People's attitudes towards dogs would need to be identified. Also percentage of population in each.

Here's a wild and wrong guess.

   5% -- irrational dog lovers (presumably, the dog welfare ngo's, etc. -- the "blinded by love" situation)

 30% -- rational dog lovers (pet owners, some of the ngo's, etc. - those who can accept others' views)

 30% -- unaffected indifferent people (the 'don't care so long as I am not affected' type)

 30% -- rational dog fearers (have had or heard of a scary experience or are theoretically scared)

   5% -- irrational dog fearers (I would like to believe there are no dog-haters)

 

All the arguments for and against can be listed by the above groups. Doing so is worthwile as it will sensitise everyone concerned but on its own it will not lead to a conclusion as each segment will not change its stance. One of those"necessary but not sufficient" situations.

 

So on what basis can / should society take a decision?

- by vote? Not really the correct way as the majority then trample on the rights and feelings of the minority which may indeed be ethically, morally, spiritually correct.

- by lobbying? Again not really the correct way, as the strong can then overcome the weak.

- through court? Maybe ok -- the assumption being that judges will have full knowledge of the facts and that the law can be changed, if they feel it is necessary.

- through compromise? It would be worthwhile to discuss if this is the best and if indeed we are mature enough as a society to achieve this.

 

So I see the stray dogs discussion as symptomatic of all the problems and situations that we are facing today -- as a locality, as a city, as a country. I am extremely keen to hear all ideas on possible solution methods else I wonder how we can reach acceptable and practical solutions on plastic usage, slum rehab, hawker zoning, rental laws, land usage, etc.

 

A good method of deciding a solution may also lead to good methods of implementing them.

 

Regards

Vinay

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Response 23: Stray Dogs - Vinay's query

Dear Vinay

I am replying to your query on the connection between sterilisation and dog attacks, because I believe the brunt of stray dog aggression is borne by people like us who handle strays on a daily basis, in slums and elsewhere. Our views are based on our experiences with the 80,000 stray dogs we have dealt with in the past twelve years.

Dogs are territorial and fiercely attack other dogs who migrate into their area. In the course of these dog fights, passing humans are inadvertently bitten since at such times dogs easily redirect their aggression onto others. Bitches with pups also bite people who walk close to their litter. These are the causes of almost ALL unprovoked dog bites.

Dogs migrate for these reasons: To mate with a female on heat, to look for new territories as they grow up, since the ones they are born in are defended by older dogs, and dwindling food sources (garbage in this case) in the original area. The first two reasons are directly related to breeding. A sterilized dog no longer leaves his territory, and sterilized dogs don't enter his. No more dogs being born means no more young dogs looking for new territories. Therefore
migration-related aggression comes to an end with sterilization. (Dwindling food sources are definitely not a problem given Mumbai's current garbage scenario, so no migration for this reason either.) Two other ways in which sterilization reduces dog aggression: Bitches who have no pups to protect no longer attack people, and male dogs after sterilization become less aggressive due to the drop in testosterone. This is why sterilization of males is critical for the success of any dog control programme.

We have witnessed the reduction in dog aggression and in dogs per se in South Mumbai, where we have been sterilizing dogs for years. In fact according to the count we carry out in the course of annual on-site vaccinations, the dog population in these areas(A,B,C& D wards) is around 6000.Thus there has been a drastic fall in the stray dog population. Hence it is hard to imagine children being mauled in any of the slums of Colaba or Nariman Point, even if the BMC
suddenly provided incentives for dog migration by piling up buffalo carcasses there. There simply aren't that many hungry dogs left, and their nutritional needs are more than met by the existing "kachra petis". 

The same situation could have existed in the suburbs had we been allowed to replicate our programme there. Strangely, the BMC has blocked rather than encouraged the scaling up of the programme by not granting us and other NGO's permission to construct the additional kennels we need. We've been awaiting their NOC for our construction plans for the last 6 years.

It should also be remembered that there is no data on the number of children who were mauled when dog-killing was still being practised. However, BMC figures shown to us last week reveal a sharp drop in human rabies deaths, and also a drop in dog bite cases since 1998. Perhaps you should ask them for a copy.

For further information, we recommend a visit to our website : www.wsdindia.org especially the Stray Dog issue section and the FAQ's section. 
regards

Abodh Aras
Chief Executive Officer
The Welfare Of Stray Dogs(WSD)

--
Adopt a street dog ! They are a breed apart!
The Welfare Of Stray Dogs(WSD) Tel:23733433/23891070 

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response 24: stray dogs! not connected with loving or hating them

Two posts (both informative and well written) by Nandita and Abodh seem to be saying the following.

rule 1
number of stray dogs is proportional to amount of garbage (food). hence no change in amount of garbage implies no change in number of stray dogs.

this means that *sterilization drives will have no impact on the number of dogs*.

rule 2
sterilization reduces substantially the risk of injury or death to humans through dog aggression.

of course stray dogs (in addition to other animals), sterilized or not, will still cause traffic accidents that will endanger humans as well as cause suffering to the animal.

Maybe a group poll will be illuminating

Do you consider stray dogs right now to be a "problem"?
[so basically some people may not think that there is even a problem that needs to be dealt with. some people will get bitten and in extreme cases will die, but that's ok. as an example, there is no move to ban firecrackers or the kumbh mela even though we know for a fact that a certain number of people will get injured and will die.]

I dont think this issue hinges on being a dog-lover or a dog-hater. Large number of stray dogs in a city is a civic problem not a personal issue.

The stray dog problem: What's love got to do with it?
The stray dog problem: What's love got to do with it?
 
I have been working with WSD since 1993 and I am responding to Ranjit Gadgil's comment that love or hatred of dogs should not be connected with the stray dog problem. First I wish to say that I was bitten by a rabid animal at a time when the BMC was still killing dogs, before I had ever heard of WSD. My love of dogs did not make the bites less painful, the injections less expensive or rabies less frightening.
 
It is perfectly correct that love of dogs should not be a factor in solving this civic problem. However, neither should a bias against dog-lovers be a factor . This is as irrational as the pro-dog bias, and will cloud one's judgement as effectively. I believe we animal welfare groups are looked at through a cloud of clichés. Since the   dog control programme was introduced by us (by default),that, too is seen through an equally distorted filter.
 
Here are the cold facts, for unbiased readers:
 
· In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, the WHO (World Health Organisation) advocated mass killing of stray dogs as the most effective way to eradicate human rabies, since the link between canine and human rabies was well established.
· They then reviewed the rabies situation worldwide and found that rabies was actually on the rise. This led to a radical departure in policy in the late 1980s.
· The WHO correctly concluded that dogs which were killed were quickly replaced due to the sustaining factors of slums and garbage.
· It also correctly concluded that methods which work in developed countries should not be blindly applied in developing countries, as conditions are very different there.
· It then recommended, quite logically, that mass vaccination rather than removal of dogs was the most effective way to eradicate human rabies in developing countries.
· Subsequent WHO reports, including the latest, continue to uphold this view.
· Mass vaccination campaigns in South America , Mexico and the Carribean have been very successful, thanks to a high level of government commitment.
· The WHO emphasizes the important role of government support in implementing the programme.
 
These conclusions should be common knowledge in any responsible civic body, individual or group seriously motivated to eradicate human rabies. Perhaps one should conclude that such individuals and groups do not exist.
 
What about canine rabies? In contrast, there are groups motivated to eradicate this: WSD is one of them. We have taken the trouble to find out the views of the highest healthcare authorities and track developments in rabies control worldwide. The WHO findings reinforced what we had already experienced in our on-site interactions with stray dogs.
 
But what happens when groups like ours advocate a practical, scientific, proven, large-scale public health programme?
 
It is immediately perceived as an impractical, unscientific, small-scale animal welfare programme which deprioritizes human beings. Because we are perceived to have an emotional flaw: We love dogs.
 
Simultaneously, bureaucrats with no great knowledge of rabies control or canine habits, sit in airconditioned offices far removed from slums and garbage, promising a stray dog-free utopia to be brought about by the mass killing of dogs. Their spectacular past failure is instantly forgotten, their own admission that killing has failed is instantly forgotten, and the fairy tale is bought by a rational public. The only reason they are believed: They definitely do not love dogs.
 
The logic escapes me. Is it actually scientific to assume that a humane procedure is bound to be less successful than an inhumane one? What's the connection between kindness and effectiveness? Why is a secondary and relatively minor feature of the programme - kindness to dogs - being given primary importance by one and all? The objective of the earlier mass killing programme was after all rabies eradication, not sadism. Cruelty was incidental. Similarly, in the new rabies eradication programme, kindness is incidental, not an end in itself.
 
The sterilization programme is based on the realities of canine behaviour, human behaviour and urban conditions in a developing country. Here is what should have happened: The programme should have been introduced in India by municipal health departments, or some other large state agency, with at least the budget put into it that was earlier put into dog killing. Animal welfare groups should then have been called in to help with the implementation.
 
Since this did not happen, we animal welfare NGOs - a small and marginalized group - took it on ourselves to introduce this scheme. We have been implementing it with funding only from dog lovers, and have had to constantly struggle to get basic co-operation from the civic authorities, usually through intensive lobbying or prolonged legal battles. For instance, a High Court order demanding municipal co-operation has been openly flouted for the past 7 years.
 
No NGO can match the scale and resources of a legally elected/appointed state body. Predictably, the programme has not been implemented on the scale it requires, with the result that large numbers of harried citizens are sceptical about it.
 
A final fact: Despite being handicapped by the lack of state support, NGOs with the help of dog-lovers have managed to minimize the dog nuisance in South Mumbai and to bring down the number of human rabies deaths in the city. Please consider what we could accomplish with state support. And as Mr Gadgil cautions us, do leave your emotions out of it.
 
(I am not responding to Mr Gadgil's remarks on sterilization having no impact on the number of stray dogs, as I believe the topic is very thoroughly covered in our website on www.wsdindia.org   Of course if anyone has any queries after going through the site, we will answer them.)

Rajashree Khalap
Project Manager
The Welfare Of Stray Dogs(WSD)
Adopt a street dog ! They are a breed apart!
The Welfare Of Stray Dogs(WSD) Tel:23733433/23891070

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Response 25:  R U bogged down by Dogs ? Well, Doggone then like this...

Dear Dog Lovers and Dog Haters,

Some technical information below from garbageguru.

 

1. Very crudely speaking, each scavenger animal is a function of Carbohydrate band and its radical features and behaviour  are accentuated by Nitrate band.

 

A man be be an ordinary man, or wear an ARMY, NAVY or AIR FORCE uniform as required.  Similarly for scavenger creatures.

 

Ganapathi is coming and his VAHAN is a MOUSE.   Higher nitrate will create a rat.   (Larger rats are safer than smaller ones.)  Very high nitrate, say from buried buffalow carcasses combined with nitrate laden rain ( caused by indiscriminate use of fossil fuel) will lead to the rats transforming into Plague rats, in the next or next to next generation.

 

Again, these scavenger creatures are the ECO POLICE of Mother NATURE, they are not the disease carriers and its ONLY when they get sick, that they could cause sickness inadvertently to us.  If you could just comprehend how much loving is Mother Nature, then you will see the line of defences to the threat to us, which is caused by us, by our misbehaviour and flouting Ecological laws and then worship these creatures  Thats why i am setting up Mumbai's first Cockroach Mandir for Ganapathi festival.  These are the very incarnations of the Lord.

 

The Military may be in the barracks but when the Commander gives an order, they will come out and fight.   The military aircraft are not carrying bombs but in times of crisis, they are loaded, and when the commander gives the order, they are dropped.

 

To demonstrate this in terms of your own experience, let me explain.  You may 

1. NOT SEE MOSQUITOES

2. SEE MOSQUITOES

3. Hear `singing` mosquitoes

4. Get bitten in the evening during Diya time.

5. Get bitten in the day. (Not good sign)

 

Instead of solving the root cause, you light mosquito coils to drive them away.  This is akin to switching off the FIRE ALARM.

 

Its when these creatures fail to control the NPN, that the bacteria and Virus sets in.  Thus, as long as creatures are VISIBLE to the eye, there will be no disease. 

 

We permit Spiders, Black ants, Lizards in our homes.  They clean up the NPN so we do not get sick.  How kind of them !

 

In SOUTH INDIA, we do not move into a new house unless a lizard first moves in.  The tradition is there, the reason is forgotten or known only to the Brahmins.   In Singapore, where the houses are `CLEAN` with pesticide, therefore, they had no warning signals and the punishment awarded was DEATH. 

 

A mother first chides her misbehaving child with a stern face  (VISIBLE MOSQUITO), then may shout (SINGING MOSQUITO), then may slap child (BITING MOSQUITO)  Worst case is mother killing the child for unacceptable behaviour.

 

Dogs indicate acidic PH of the garbage.  If you do not want dogs to  1. Be seen, 2.  bark, 3. bite  then just understand the laws of Mother Nature which are PERFECT.

 

Dogs come to resolve problems created by us.  Anyone can try this simple experiment.  Get fine rock dust (from stone crushing quarry) and sprinkle on the garbage heap properly such that it gets in contact with the food waste especially.  The ROCK DUST will neutralise the Organic PH and  thus deny role to dogs.  The grit will also deter dogs. 

 

All scavenger creatures are a function of Non Proteinous Nitrogen, Moisture and Temperature.  This is one of the pivots of Dr. Uday Bhawalkar's PHD thesis of 1996.  Seems no one has read it yet.  Then, I have sat here for 10 years to explain this ONE graph, but neither municipality nominees (those who can change policy) nor the NGO groups (who advocate) ever visit for this official education and training center of GREEN CROSS SOCIETY, c/o Municipal Sewage Pumping Station, Opposite Indian Oil nagar, Andheri (West), Mumbai 400 053.  Phone: 26329978  Mrs. VERONICA  DIAS

 

Dogs being visible is 1st Digit polution.

Dogs barking is 2nd Digit polution

Dogs biting is 3rd  Digit pollution

Dogs dying of disease is 4th Digit pollution

Humans dying of disease will be 5th Digit pollution.  

 

Thus, you can clearly see that they are the warning signs.  If you dont heed them, then you may not be alive to feel sorry.

 

There is also a clear relationship between body weight of the animal, its life span  and the food it consumes.  Hence, when the larger creatures cannot consume the food, which is being wasted then in a biofire, Mother Nature quickly sends the bacteria and Virus (depending on conditions)  Very crudely speaking, the VIRUS is but a small `mosquito` inside the body. 

 

If you can understand the fire fighters triangle work, then just lock up the nitrates (NPN) with spices and be saved.  South Indians in Kerala are blessed with Pepper since thats a high nitrate area.  The Kerala fold are known to swallow two or three pepper corns with their food.  They may not know why but I do.  Also why food there is fermented, or sprouted (This utilises nitrates)

 

NITRATE IS FOOD FOR PLANT, NOT FOOD FOR ANIMAL.  If you ensure conversion of wasted organics into top soil, then the scavenger creatures will NOT multiply and there will be NO DISEASE.  

 

When the dog is eating nitrate poisoned food, it suffers from `NITRATE  MADNESS`  This is our fault, not the dogs.  We are in a habit to blame others always.

 

Flies thrive in acidic condition, but breed in alkaline conditions.  Hence, fly maggots are correcting acidity.  NAPOLEON knew this, hence he saved his soldiers from Gangrene by ordering them not to remove fly maggots from wounds on the battlefield.

 

A little excreta on the road attracts flies.

Take this excreta and add water, put in a chamber, and you have created a factory for cockroaches.

Take the same excreta and add lost of water, and you have the factory for mosquitoes.

Reduce the temperature of this water and you get.....

 

 

FISH.

 

regards,

Vag Shantharam Shenai

(In honour of Dr. Uday Bhawalkar PHD , I.I.T. Bombay and Chemical Engineer from I.I.T. Bombay and his PHD guide, Dr. H.S.Shankar from Chemical Engineering department, I.I.T. Bombay)

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Vinay's views on stray dogs

Someone from an animal-related NGO felt that I should also state my views regarding stray dogs. So here they are.

 

I normally refrain from taking a position (even in my own thoughts) until I really have to (as is the case now) as I feel I will not remain receptive to all the viewpoints thereafter. Also I found that when I voice my thoughts, then those opposed to it, tend to leave the yahoo group or fall silent, which is contrary to what any of us wants happening in this public forum.

 

Anyway, I am trying to think through my views on stray dogs as I write this email.

 

Emotional reaction (to stray dogs, pets, any animal for that matter):

- I don't feel the urge to pet an animal. I am also a little worried of unpredictable behaviour. If I am walking past a dog, I would look at it to be prepared for unpredictable behaviour.

- My wife is very scared of animals. She can't recall any incident to justify it. If she is walking and spots a dog, she would widen the distance as much as possible.

- Our daughter loves animals. She finds stray dogs cute. If she is walking and spots a stray dog, she will go to pet it. She is the type who would reach into the kangaroo's pouch to pet a joey (she actually did that in Australia as we watched petrified.) A career with the likes of Animal Planet and she will be in seventh heaven so if anyone has any contacts so that she can visit, please put us in touch.

 

So based on an emotional reaction, my decision would be wrong.

 

 

Practical reaction (to dogs - strays or otherwise):

 

So long as stray dogs don't keep me awake at night (which they rarely do in my area), don't hurt anyone I know personally (which they haven't), or kill anyone (which however did happen as reported by Stree Mukti Sangathan), I am pro stray dogs.

Given my nature, I am sure if this changes, I would rather not have them around. (In small towns, I have often wondered how people manage any sleep at all.)

 

 Spiritual reaction (to dogs or any animals):

 

I wouldn't be for killing animals.

 Intellectual reaction (to stray dogs):

 

I had asked this in an earlier email. There are about 2 lakh stray dogs in Mumbai. What would be the problems if the number becomes 5 lakh dogs or some such high number? Is it possible that by effective sterilisation, numbers may stabilise at some acceptable level? Or, in fact, keep on decreasing? What problems would arise if the numbers were to decrease? Is there an eco-balance based around dogs? Is sterilisation the only solution?

 

What would happen if BMC were to succeed with a zero-garbage plan? Where would stray dogs get their food from? Would stray dogs get adopted as community pets? What would happen to those who don't? Would they move out on their own? Or would they become aggressive and hurt people and then some forcible action be have to be taken against them?

 

I am more of a conceptual type and would thus get biased in favour of the results of studies / hypotheses that may be carried out regarding such questions. Of course who would do such an analysis is a moot question. Animal-welfare orgs will certainly not as it will only dilute the current situation. Any other group will not because there is no motivation for them to do so. The government will not because why should they care? They don't even care to re-deploy the 140 people who were connected with this department who have no work and earn regular salaries while sitting absolutely idle.

 

So what is likely to happen is that some more kids will be killed and then someone will approach the Supreme Court again and the law will get modified. An unfortunate approach of using / misusing the legal system that society seems to be having to take.

 

 

The approach I think is worthwhile to pursue:

 

One of the responses in the yahoo group had suggested to form a group with those who value animal rights, along with those who understand civic rights, and those who have deep environmental perspectives. Such a group aided by those who can help in elaborating what-if scenarios would be a good starting point for society to agree to a solution. (But again, who would initiate such a group?)

 

I would be most comfortable with this approach and the recommendations emanating out of such an approach. My individual opinion to society's problems does not matter to me.

 

Thanks for the opportunity to clarify my own thoughts to myself and the patient reading.

Responses would be valued.

Vinay

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Sterilization of Stray Dogs & Cats to Prevent Animal Cruelty

You know there is an explosion in Mumbai of stray dogs and cats. Dogs and cats ruthlessly attack each other in territorial fights and end up contrating and spreading disease and go through a inhumane life. It doesn't have to be this way. With appropriate sterilization process we can help prevent them from multiplying so that they won't  go through so much cruelty. The bigger problem is that everytime Animal Control catches hold of them most of them end up being electricuted or are put in gas chambes to die. 

We can prevent this from happening by sterilizing dogs and cats to prevent them from multiplying. There is a very scientific way of doing this. There is an organization in Phuket Island, Thailand which does exactly that. They have been doing this for last 5 years and had a tremendous success. We can implement the same process and begin a journey of eliminating animal cruelty and prevent spread of disease and suffering for animals that don't have the ability to communicate their challenges to us. I encourage everyone to visit the website listed below and e-mail me if you are interested in taking up this cause. 

Gautam Parekh

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BMCs does not deal with stray dogs as AWOs do it

What a pertinent question. BMC won't like you anymore for  having asked this

 

And as for the question per se, we really would have liked to know why BMC is not doing this. Speaking for ourselves, I can tell you this: Myself and our Secretary have been the non official members of the District PCA ( Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Managing Committee which had been formed under the presidentship of the District Collector. The other official members are Police Comm, SP, Municipal Comms or CEOs, Mun. Health officers, Dy Com of District Animal Husbandry Dept who is the standing Member Secretary, Representative of the RTO com etc.

 

From the first meeting I and our Secretary in the PCA Committee have been fighting to get the Committee to pass a resolution to get all Municipalties to start sterilisation in individual areas. It was one hell of a difficult task to convince the DC himself, but I was headstrong and by the end of the first meeting he became aware of all pros and cons and the scientific reasons behind non killing of dogs. He immidiately passed the resolution. We convinced the Comittee that it was impractical to have one or two sterilisation centres to cater to dogs from th e 4 corners of such a large district, and the NGOs of Thane had no space to start off with the programme.The DC immediately passed the resolution for each Mun corpn. to start their own centres.

 

It was at this juncture that I personally started interacting with the officials of the different Mun. Corporations and goading them to have the law implemented. Soon Thane Mun. Corpn, then Mira Road Bhayander one by one started their centres. Kalyan Dombivili was taking a long time because of technical delays, but they too have now started. Note that this is not on the priority list of any Corporation's agenda, though it should be. Most of the credit goes to the two District Collectors who are very pro active and the present DC who believes that animal welfare should be a top priority for any Mun. Corporation. I make it a point to meet the officers of the different Mun. Corpns every other week to follow up on their activity or plans. Frankly, we are on very good terms with all of them and they have all been very open to our suggestions.

 

All said and done, this is what we have done in Thane district. It is still not an answer to your question.The NGOs in Mumbai are doing a wonderful job, all by themselves, without much help from the BMC. Maybe its because the Mumbai NGOs have taken it all upon themselves that they are taken advantage of.

 

Warm regards

Shakuntala

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stray dogs: BMC - NGO Sector Collaboration on Cleanliness

Dear Vinay,

In the cleanliness drive,AIAWA can render some help since AIAWA is situated near the city dumping ground, (Dhobi Ghat, Mahalaxmi E). The concerned NGO can contact AIAWA and perhaps we can work out something positive togehter.

Another aspect that needs to be dicussed are the stray animals, which include dogs, cats, cattle on roads and near garbage dumps. What plan has been designed for these animals? Every road in Mumbai have some animals loitering in search of food and shelter. Apart from BMC,I am afraid that some NGOs also have different ideas in dealing with these strays. Therefore
this aspect needs to be kept in mind too in the proposed claeliness program. Though slaughter houses and tabelas have been covered, what about the chicken shops and illegal slaughter joints that are operational in many parts of the city. The BMC and Police are aware of them but do nothing. 

These aspects are important for any cleaning program therfore I am drawing your attention. The on going animal birth control program for stray dogs is a program of clearing Mumbai streets of stray dog. But very few people understand this program. This program has to be viewed as a health related program and not so much an animal welfare program.

So much for now.

Jigeesha Thakore  

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stray dogs have to be curbed!!

I had I think sent a plan for Dog control and I thought I will retransmit that to you But I could not retrieve that from the system.

However let me ask you, has the BMC totally abandoned the dog control issue? They used to have vehicles which used to pick up these dogs and almost on regular basis.

Secondly our honorable ministry which has professed Dog protection should come up with solutions/suggestions for the control of thee dogs population which has really become a menace There are several children affected due to dog bites and have received mental and physical harm and not to speak of the ones who had to take then to clinic and hospitals for treatment.

There should not be any dog on the street unless it has a owner or care taker. sorry to say but our Municipality must re establish a section atleast for temporary period say six month or year till the popuaalation is brought under conrol.

and then there are control measures which can be put into effect.

People first and then the dogs should be the slogan

Best regards

Rane

[1. I do not recollect receiving the email. Pl send again. It sounds interesting.

2. Some protection from dogs is indeed needed. I hear many complaints nowadays.

3. Your concept of no stray dog however needs to be broadened e.g. community to take care. Else it is not a nice one.

4. The slogan is highly incorrect. No planes till trains for all, no cars till buses for all, no colleges till schools for all, etc., will not do.

regards, vinay]

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A PUBLIC ANSWER TO PV RANE ON CURBING STRAY DOGS

Mumbai: In an attempt to find a viable solution to the stray dog menace, the BMC has drawn out an action plan to expand its sterilisation programme from 8,000 dogs every year to about 25,000.

    The action plan was chalked out after the issue was raised time and again by corporators in the BMC general body meetings. "Presently, there are only five NGOs helping us with the sterilisation programme. We plan to enlist the support of some more NGOs. Moreover, students of the Parel maternity college have agreed to sterilise at least 1,000 dogs per year,'' said additional municipal commissioner Vijaysinh Patankar.

    Patankar added that the drive would be intensified in the western suburbs where the menace is the most. Also on the anvil are plans for a helpline which people can contact in case they want to call for the dog van. The BMC was killing 35,000-odd dogs every year till 1994, when the practice was stopped after the NGOs obtained a stay from the high court. After the HC ordered the civic body to stop killing dogs in 1998, it roped in five NGOs to help control the stray dog population. "Our requests to the BMC to increase the number of NGOs have been turned down in the past. The five NGOs have to sustain on their own resources. Unless they provide us with adequate funds and space, there is no way that the BMC can achieve its set target,'' said Fizah Shah from In Defence of Dogs, one of the five NGOs working on the sterilisation programme.

    Meanwhile, corporators from different parties are persistent in their demands that mercy killing of dogs be allowed. Shiv Sena corporator Bala Sawant has started a signature campaign to enlist the