::SOACTINDIA::

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Save Our Animals Charitable Trust

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FAQs (Click on the Question to read the Answer)

Dog lovers as well as people who think dogs as nuisance have lots of doubts in their minds. They pose several questions concerning stray dogs (more recently referred to as "community dogs"). Some of the most common questions are:

1. Why does every city and town in India have so many stray dogs? Why can't our country be like the West?

India is faced with the massive problem of exposed garbage, open meat stalls, roadside eateries, etc. that lead to an increase in dog population. Whereas in the West these problems do not exist. Also, free-roaming stray dogs are kept as pets in slums and by rag-pickers who have no concept of sterilizing their pets. These dogs multiply profusely thereby adding to the dog population. On the contrary in the West, free-roaming dogs are captured and re-homed by animal shelters. Thus tackling the problem immediately.

2. Why cannot stray dogs be killed or just taken away to some other place?

Killing or removal of stray dogs will not solve the problem. It is only a short-term relief because the vacuum created by killing or relocating dogs will soon get filled up by new dogs from surrounding areas. Following are also the further effects that happen when dogs are killed or removed:

Ecological imbalances will be created. The food source - garbage - is still available in abundance, so the problem of increased number of rodents will be encountered - which can be extremely dangerous to humans because there are chances of outbreak of plague.
New dogs in the area could lead to more dog-fights and redirected aggression towards humans.
Thefts and burglaries could rise when dogs that were the guardians of the area are removed.
Since the main factors leading to dog aggression - migration and mating - continue to exist, the nuisance factor continues to persist.

It has therefore proved beyond doubt that the most effective solution is to sterilize dogs, vaccinate them against rabies and put them back in their own areas rather than killing them indiscriminately or relocating them.

3. Stray dogs carry rabies - what has to do be done about this?

Only rabid dogs spread rabies. Healthy ones don't. There have been very few cases of rabies reported. As per the World Health Organisation mass vaccination of dogs is the only effective way to eradicate human rabies.

The sterilization programme also includes administration of anti-rabies vaccination before the dogs are released. All the NGOs participating in the sterilization programme follow this protocol strictly. Also, annual vaccination drives are being carried out by the NGOs and the local municipalities.

4. How exactly are dogs sterilized? Are both males and females sterilized?

Both males and females need to be sterilized, because while the females actually give birth to more dogs, the males are more aggressive and have much higher nuisance value. Complaints from the public are almost always about males.

Both males and females are surgically sterilized under general anesthesia, by qualified veterinary surgeons. The process is also called neutering. In the case of females the ovaries and uterus are removed, and in the case of males the testicles are removed. Therefore both mating and breeding cease.

Currently, the scientific method called the Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR) is being propagated by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI). Public support is a must for this program to be successful and for overcoming the stray dog problem in a humane way.

5. How would I know if a dog has been sterilized?

Dogs that are sterilized have a triangular notch in the ear. This is quite noticeable from a distance itself. This is done in order to avoid picking up the same dog by the catchers when dogs get picked up for sterilization.

6. Why should dogs be put back in their own areas after sterilization?

The answer is simple:

Dogs are territorial and will not allow new dogs to enter.
Since they are all neutered, they no longer mate or multiply or migrate in search of mates.
Non-migration of dogs eliminates dog-fights and thus reduces risks of aggression towards humans.
Most importantly, since females no longer have pups to protect, this source of dog aggression is also eliminated.
Slowly but surely, over a period of time, as the sterilized dogs die natural deaths, the dog population is greatly reduced.

7. The dog problem may have reduced in some areas - but there are still so many dogs in some of the suburbs. What's being done about
that?

The human population and the number of high-rise buildings are growing very fast in the suburbs, leading to suddenly increased amounts of garbage, leading to a large population of stray dogs. The Municipality and the local NGOs are trying very hard to deal with this problem as best as they can and will need some time to show results. Once again, it should be stated here that, public participation is very important to successfully tackle this problem and come out with a win-win situation for all.

8. What should I do if I want the dogs in my area sterilized?

You should request the local Municipal Corporation, preferably in writing, to pick up the dogs and hand them over to the nearest animal welfare organisation for sterilization. State clearly that you want them returned to the same area afterwards.

9. In summary how do we control the stray dog population, dog bites and rabies?

There has to be a multi-pronged approach to solving this problem:

Make garbage landfills safe and cordon off garbage dumps/areas, so that neither dogs nor children can enter.

Close down open and unauthorized meat shops.

Sterilize all the stray dogs simultaneously and monitor their annual anti-rabies vaccination.

Most importantly, control pet dog breeding and ensure that all dog breeders are registered.

Encourage responsible dog ownership and take care of your sterilized community dogs.

Intensify adoption of stray dogs by the public.

PARTICIPATION BY THE COMMUNITY IS THE KEY TO SOLVING THIS PROBLEM.