BOW-WOW

An estimated one billion domestic dogs are found around the world. Dogs are valuable companion animals for many people, and dog walking can support human health and well-being, e.g. through increased outdoor activities and social contacts. 

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India is home to about 30 million stray dogs, which amounts to 1 stray dog per 42 people in the country. By some estimates, there are more stray dogs in India than in any other country. According to Bill Garrett, the Executive Director of the Atlanta Humane Society, there are at least 5 times more homeless animals than homeless people.

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Stray dogs are common in India because of following reasons - first, a common characteristic of India’s cities encourages stray dog populations — open garbage. Stray dogs are scavengers, so they rely on garbage on the street as a source of food. In countries where garbage is kept in bins and cleaned regularly, stray dogs cannot survive on the streets. Second, India has fewer government and NGO services that deal with stray dogs. In many countries, the government spays and neuters stray dogs to slow population growth. Many other countries have organizations like Animal Control, the Humane Society, private shelters, and rescue organizations. All of these interventions require a lot of resources. For this reason, India has fewer large-scale interventions and organizations to deal with stray dogs.

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India has attempted to address its stray dog problem for the last two centuries. In the 19th century, the British started killing stray dogs to control the population. This continued through Independence with up to 50,000 dogs killed each year. In 1960, the government passed the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, which aimed to prevent unnecessary pain or suffering to animals. The Act also established the Animal Welfare Board to advise the government on animal welfare laws and promote animal welfare in the country of India. Despite this act, the government continued its mass killing of stray dogs.

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Why majority of the Indians are not stray dogs friendly? :

The phenomena of owing stray dogs by citizens to provide love, care, healthy food and shelter is partly missing and rare, especially in urban and semi-urban India. Mostly, stray dogs are viewed as scavengers rely on garbage and waste food thrown on streets. For survival, they are forced to eat whatever is available whether it is eatable or not; digestible or not; suitable to their present health or not; whether food will help to feed new born pups or not etc. Ill-treatment, rotten food, climatic conditions, hormonal changes, insecurity, threats and many other physical and environmental factors lead to several chronic diseases among stray dogs. Stray dogs easily get infectious diseases (viral; bacterial; fungal; protozoan and parasite); diseases and disorders by system; cancers; behavioural; environmental; poisons and overdoses, etc.         

 

The most common diseases among stray dogs are Rabies; Canine parvovirus; Canine Coronavirus; Canine distemper; Canine Influenza; Infectious canine hepatitis; Canine herpesvirus; Puedorabies; Canine minute virus; Brucellosis; Leptospirosis; Lyme disease; Kennel cough; Histoplasmosis; Cryptococcosis; Ringworm; Sporotrichosis; Pythiosis; Babesiosis; Neosporosis; Trichinosis etc.

 

According to government hospital records, there is an incidence of dog bite every 6 minute in India. An estimated 20,000 people die each year from rabies infections in India, accounting for 36% of worldwide rabies deaths. No other country has more annual rabies deaths. Compounding this problem is the high cost of the rabies treatment, which costs 450 rupees (about USD $7). This is prohibitively expensive for the 60% of the population that lives under USD $2 per day.

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Keeping statistics aside, the qualitative matter of this social venture concentrates on empathy, empathy towards stray dogs and similar categories. How to make Indian citizens empathetic, aware and responsible?