Opinion Growing stray dog problem is evidence that the sterilisation programme has failed

The only long-term solution is to implement strict pet ownership laws, prohibit people from carelessly feeding dogs everywhere, and set up facilities to house dogs.

To expect a developing country like India to invest thousands of crores of rupees to set up the necessary infrastructure, and deploy lakhs of people to catch dogs, operate on them and take care of them, is a pipe dream. (Express file photo by Abhinav Saha)

Abi T Vanak

March 21, 2023 08:50 AM IST First published on: Mar 18, 2023 at 04:00 PM IST

The conflict between people and stray dogs in India has crossed the threshold of tolerance. While cases of young children being mauled to death by packs of dogs are in the news now, this phenomenon is not new. Over the last five years, more than 300 people — mostly children from poor and rural families — have been killed by dogs. Worse still, dogs are responsible for over 20,000 rabies deaths. A 2017 study showed that homeless dogs in rural areas can also be devastating for wildlife. Over 80 species, of which more than 30 are on the endangered list, were targeted by dogs in wilderness areas. This mounting evidence points to a failure on the part of the government to implement policies that are both practical and humane to dogs, people, and wildlife.

But why are we facing such a problem with dogs? There is no one answer. The concept of dog “ownership” is nebulous for most Indians, with only a small fraction of urban dwellers falling into the category of what is now called “pet parents”. Most dogs in rural areas are associated with households that feed them but do little else in terms of healthcare or welfare. In urban areas too, people from all walks of life feed dogs on the streets but very few take any direct responsibility. Ultimately it is the responsibility of the state to ensure that the lives of humans and domesticated animals are safe and secure. This is where the problem lies. The Animal Welfare Board of India, a statutory body under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, promulgated the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules in 2001 (now replaced with the even more draconian ABC Rules 2023). This policy was meant to control both the dog population, as well the deadly rabies virus.

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However, the ABC rules are not based on scientific evidence and violate guidelines provided by the World Health Organisation and the World Organisation for Animal Health for preventing rabies. The ABC Rules require a programme named after this year’s Oscar-winning movie — Everything Everywhere All at Once. A sterilisation programme is most effective when it targets the majority of the population in one go, is carried out continuously over the years, and when there are very low chances of new individuals coming into the population. This scenario is applicable only on islands, or where human settlements are very widely spaced.

It is easier said than done for a country with a dog population of 60-80 million. To expect a developing country like India to invest thousands of crores of rupees to set up the necessary infrastructure, and deploy lakhs of people to catch dogs, operate on them and take care of them, is a pipe dream. Especially considering that many regions of this country do not have adequate infrastructure for public health.

Even if they are sterilised, dogs that continue to live on streets will still bite, chase people and vehicles, get into accidents, suffer from hunger and disease, and remain in conflict with people. Where resources are available, dog density will continue to increase, especially if people feed dogs on the streets. The only long-term solution is to implement strict pet ownership laws, prohibit people from carelessly feeding dogs everywhere, and set up facilities funded by animal welfare organisations that can either house dogs for life, or humanely euthanise them so they don’t suffer on the streets. This policy is implemented across the world and was also espoused by Mahatma Gandhi over a century ago when he exhorted local authorities to build a pinjrapole for dogs or eliminate them altogether.

As long as dogs are homeless on the streets, the idea of a rabies-free India, with harmonious co-existence between people and dogs, will be a utopian dream. Keeping dogs homeless is bad for dogs, bad for people, and bad for wildlife.

The writer is director, Centre for Policy Design, ATREE, Bengaluru