Stray dogs

Within the last ten months, 200,000 cases of dog bites have been reported across Sindh. Even though the population of stray dogs has increased alarmingly in the province, this is a country-wide problem. The inability of provincial governments and municipal administrations to devise a strategy to address the issue has led to a dire situation.

In flood-affected areas, as many as 783 dog bite cases were reported. Most areas are densely populated where pedestrians, motorists and children playing on the streets can be found at nearly all hours of the day. People are faced with the constant threat of dog attacks and eventually contracting rabies. Immediately washing the wound and having anti-rabies vaccination done can prevent the disease, yet many deaths as a result of rabies are reported each year in the country. Garbage heaps in cities have allowed stray dogs to sustain themselves. The strays have become a major source of pollution as they open garbage bags and ruin whatever little greenery and flower beds are present in the cities.

Evidently, mass culling is not a viable solution because it has not helped curb the rising population of stray dogs. Perhaps, the local governments should work with non-profit organisations to rescue strays and shelter them. Instead of purchasing expensive dog breeds that struggle to survive in our climate and environment, people should resort to adopting sheltered strays. A more effective approach would be to vaccinate and neuter the dogs and release them back into their natural habitat. Municipal administrations should be responsible for feeding and taking care of them to prevent attacks on citizens. Considering that there are multiple ways to address the issue, the local governments should attend to it urgently so that the citizens can heave a sigh of relief.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2022.

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