Rakib Altaf
SRINAGAR, Nov 15: People, especially children, should behave properly and create a better harmony with stray dogs to prevent being bitten by them, a group of experts appointed by the government has suggested.
The committee looking into the menace of dogs in capital Srinagar, where at least 50 people are bitten everyday on an average, has also said that the canines cannot be killed in view of prohibitive laws, but making them starve can curb their survival rates.
“User friendly messages should inform the people particularly children how to engage and deal with the stray dogs without panic, fear or aggression. This will create better harmony and radically reduce the bite rate,” a report of the committee’s suggestions reads.
‘Positive approach’
Officials say there are nearly a hundred thousand dogs in Srinagar, seen moving in packs almost everywhere.
In May this year, the authorities started a sterilisation program for canines after an uproar over increasing attacks by them on humans, especially children: 73 people had been mauled by dogs in just 24 hours this April.
But in June, the High Court directed the government to suggest measures other than sterilisation or ‘Animal Birth Control’ to get rid of the dog menace.
“The world over dog bite statistics is high amongst the children and Srinagar is no exception. The reason is that children tend to tease, hit and irritate dogs without realizing the repercussions,” observed the committee which was headed by Suresh Kumar, Administrative Secretary, Housing and Urban Development Department.
“Srinagar Municipal Corporation has to take responsibility for awareness campaign through print and electronic media to educate and inform public…the fear and confusion vis-à-vis stray dogs often fuelled by rumors and media hype will be contained.”
‘Starve them’
The report also advises people, mainly adults, to ensure that food waste is not thrown out in the open.
“Multiplication rate of the dogs is quite high but their survival rate mainly depends on the availability of the food. If the availability of food waste is curtailed, this will have a bearing on the proliferation rate of the dogs.”
Stray dog population has become a hot issue in the valley after a 100 percent surge in dog bite cases in the past four years. The civil society have asked authorities to either cull the population to a reasonable limit or have them shifted to another location.
The committee has included these suggestions in the report, but has overruled implementing any such measures owing to prevention of cruelties to animals act and prohibitive costs.
