This photo of a ‘young baby goat’ (referred to as a ‘kid’ in proper English language) tied to the side of a temple railing-waiting to be sacrificed was shared with us by Mr. Satish C. Gupta, an Agra resident. It was clicked on his recent visit to Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, Assam.
He also shared with us another photograph clicked at this temple which shows the remnants of a recently sacrificed bird lying on the floor of this temple.
It is strange that in a progressively developing country like India, the practice of sacrificing animals for religious reasons, in the hope that doing so will please the deities and grant a person’s wish! And we learn that Animal Sacrifice is legal in Bengal and Assam, that is why perhaps we see the shots like the ones above from Kamakhya Temple (located in Guwahati, Assam).
To learn more about the practice of Animal Sacrifices in India, their legal angle and what you can do to help stop it, please have a look at the video below.
But there are laws banning animal sacrifices in many states across India and also national laws, and the reason these laws are not being enforced is because the authorities are as ignorant of the laws as much as we are, so this puts all the more responsibility on us to inform people of the laws and inspire them to use them tactfully for the benefit of animals and also share these with the authorities and educate people alike to put an end to the archaic and cruel practice of ‘Animal Sacrifices’.
https://jaagrutiindia.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/copy-of-animal-sacrifices.avi: Save this link please to watch this video.
Below is the list of Indian states where Animal Sacrifice is ILLEGAL:
Tamil Nadu: Tamil Nadu Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prevention Act, 1950
Karnataka: Karnataka Animal Sacrifice Prohibition Act 1959
Gujarat:Gujarat Animals and Birds Sacrifice Prohibition Act, 1972
Andhra Pradesh: Andhra Pradesh Animals and Birds Sacrifices (Prohibition) Act, 1950
Kerala: The Kerala Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1968
Rajasthan: The Rajasthan Animals and Birds Sacrifice (Prohibition) Act,1975.
Pondicherry: The Pondicherry Animals and Birds Sacrifices Prohibition Act, 1965
….
If you would like to meet a few goats who got sacrificed during last Id celebrations in Delhi on 28th November 2009..scroll below
Click on the link below to download this PDF file to make yourself familiar with Animal Protection laws in India. Share this booklet with your neighbourhood Police Station too, its important we spread the word around on these largely unknown laws.
Click on this link that would lead you to a Dossier on animal protection laws for the guidance of police, HAWOs(Honorary Animal Welfare Officers), NGOs AND AWOs(Animal Welfare Organisations), that contains a compilation of Frequently Asked Questions answered thematically
Other useful resources are as follows:
Animals and the Law: A Powerpoint presentation by Advocate Ms. Aparna Rajagopal
The Indian PCA Act 1960: PDF File of The PCA – Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960, a central act.
Rules under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960
Also, kindly consider watching the below video on Section 11 of the Indian Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960
Please Note: Through the feedback received thus far on this post, there is an apparent misunderstanding on the portion in this film’s beginning where street dogs are being cruelly captured using ‘tongs’ and since the narration of this movie is in Hindi rather than English, those confusions are obvious, hence in this regard we request you to please read our short clarification on the same below, prior to watching this film. Thanks.“This film on the ABC programme does not in any way advocate the use of ‘tongs’ for capturing dogs for the purpose of sterilization, in fact this film was made in the beginning of this decade after the ABC programme was supported by the Supreme Court ruling and by High Courts across the country….and the translation (in English) of the narration behind that ‘tong’ portion in the early part of this video is that they are trying to show ‘the ways in which dogs were being caught bymunicipalities for killing purposes earlier’i.e prior to the start of ABC Programme’.
The use of such inhumane catching methods like tongs that you see the municipality catchers using in the beginning of this video is NOW illegal and horribly cruel. Up to 50% of dogs caught this cruel way die from internal bleeding.
Nowadays, people use the Net method or the Sack and loop method to humanely catch the dogs for transporting them to animal hospitals for sterilization purposes, this ensures that the animal is least traumatised during the whole process of it being taken away, even though momentarily, from its territory.”
For more information on the purpose and process of Street Dog Sterlization/Animal Birth Control-ABC Programme in India, please read:
In English: The Indian Street Dog
In Hindi: गली के आवारा कुत्ते
List of Animal Hospitals in Delhi and NCR undertaking ABC programme can be accessed here
Take Action:
Protest tomorrow i.e 7th May, 2010 (Friday) by animal activists and concerned citizens at 3.30 pm at Delhi Jal Board Office – located at Jal Sadan, Opposite MCD Building, Shiv Mandir Marg , Near Jal Vihar Terminal at Lajpat Nagar-II, Delhi.
This is to demand strong action against those employees/people who are suspected to have rounded up 11 street dogs within the Delhi Jal Board compound and mercilessly cut and pierced them all to death.
Be there!
This gory incident is believed to have transpired in broad daylight on Sunday the 2nd May, 2010, between 2 to 3pm.
For more details of the incident, please click on the thumbnails below to enlarge the copies of the self-explanatory letter sent by Maj Gen (Retd) Dr. Kharb, Chairman AWBI on 5th May, 2010 to the CEO of Delhi Jal Board.
To prompt the officials into taking stern action against the perpetrators of this crime, you can write letters of strong protest to Mr. Ramesh Negi, the C.E.O. of the Delhi Jal His e-mail address is ceodjb@hotmail.com – and shame him into taking action.
His mailing address is :
Shri Ramesh Negi, Chief Executive Officer
Delhi Jal Board,
Varunalaya, Phase II, Karol Bagh,
New Delhi-110005
Please mark copies to:
Mr. B.P. Saraswat
Executive Engineer, South IInd
Delhi Jal Board, Jal Sadan Building ,
Near Shiv Mandir, Lajpat Nagar
New Delhi
&
The S.H.O.
Police Station Lajpat Nagar
New Delhi.
For the benefit of those who are unable to download/click open the above image files of AWBI’s letter, the soft copy of the mail sent by Maj Gen (Retd) DR. Kharb, Chairperson, Animal Welfare Board of India to to Mr. Ramesh Neg, CEO, Delhi Jal Board is pasted below:
5th May 2010
To,
Shri Ramesh Negi
Chief Executive Officer
Delhi Jal Board
Varunalaya
Phase II, Karol Bagh,
New Delhi-110005
SUB: SHOCKING BUTCHERY AT THE JAL BOARD BUILDING AT LAJPAT NAGAR
Dear Sir,
In my capacity as Chairperson of the Animal Welfare Board of India, a statutory body set up under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, I am writing to you to invite your attention to a shocking instance of butchery, and utterly brutal killings of stray dogs at the Jal Board office, Jal Sadan, Lajpat Nagar, on Sunday, the 2ndof May, a little after 2.00 p.m., that has come to light a little while ago. As information filters out, several agitated residents of Delhi are calling me up and demanding that the perpetrators of the criminal acts be brought to book.
Apparently, on Sunday, the 2nd of May, 2010, between 2 and 3 p.m., when 4 (four) guards, including one Ram Kher, were ostensibly guarding the complex, and 12 (twelve) Delhi Jal Board staff, including one Rakesh, and one Ashok, were on emergency water supply duty, and therefore present at the complex, and some canteen staff were also present, 5 to 6 miscreants easily breached the security and entered the complex ! We have learnt that they were probably from the adjoining Vinoba Puri area. Despite the sensitive nature of the installation – a Delhi Jal Board installation – they were allowed to enter. Thereafter, in connivance with the 4 guards on duty, and either some or all of the staff on emergency duty, the miscreants, and the guards, and some of the others brutally beat up and cut / chopped 11 community dogs (i.e. stray dogs resident at the complex), to a horribly painful death. Apparently, legs were broken, cuts were inflicted, and bodies pierced with bhalas and other sharp objects, before the poor, hapless animals died. Some dogs, in a desperate bid to escape, ran into the building. However, the guards, and some or all of the 12 staff of duty kicked and beat them out. They were then killed in the gruesome and horribly sub-human manner described above.
The Board has also learnt that thereafter, the flesh and some parts of the body of the poor animals that suffered and died were eaten/kept aside for eating later. Some animal remains were thrown into an adjoining area, and other remains and blood were strewn over the place at that time. What is shocking is that none of the persons present called up the police, or even the Number 100, clearly demonstrating that they were all participating in the act. It was only yesterday, and today, that the other employees learnt what had occurred, and informed some Animal Welfare Organizations and the Animal Welfare Board of India.
The Board would have you know that animal cruelty is an offence – under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code – punishable with imprisonment and fine. The Animal Welfare Board of India shall of course be lodging a criminal complaint and taking legal recourse ; but I urge you as well to investigate, and take strong action against the employees who connived with the miscreants and perpetrated the heinous crime described above.
Please bear in mind that apart from the shameful slaughter of community dogs that the guards, and some/all of the employees present at the complex on Sunday, the 2nd of May, 2010, resorted to, a sensitive Jal Board installation was breached with impunity! The miscreants could have as easily mixed hazardous substances with water, leading to human casualties / illness.
What has occurred is serious enough to merit your intervention and strong action. Kindly do the needful, and please keep me informed.
Yours Sincerely
(Dr. R.M. Kharb)
Maj.Gen.(Retd.), AVSM
Chairman, AWBI
Copies to:-
Mr. B.P. Saraswat
Executive Engineer, South IInd
Delhi Jal Board, Jal Sadan Building ,
Near Shiv Mandir, Lajpat Nagar
New Delhi
&
The S.H.O.
Police Station Lajpat Nagar
New Delhi.
Backgrounder on animal laws in India:
“The greatness of a nation is judged by the way it treats its animals”, said Mahatma Gandhi once as he was leading India through the country’s fight for independence from the colonial rulers. But long before animal activism became a global movement and animal laws were enacted in India in their present form, there are pointers that India as a nation has revered nature, its flora and fauna. The earliest laws of conservation date back to as early as 3rd Century B.C when Emperor Ashoka had banned killing and hunting of all animals in his kingdom. Images depicted in ancient Indian art and wall carvings, the notes and stories mentioned in Indian scriptures and fables like Panchatantra and Hitopdesha, all of these reflect the ethos of conservation and reverence for animals. But as India moves ahead in the rat-race for being a developed country, morals and ethos are being left behind and superseded by an insensitivity and egotistical attitude that is hard to comprehend.
Stand up against Cruelty to Animals
“Unseen they suffer, unheard they cry
In Agony they linger, in loneliness they die
Does it mean anything to you or anyone who passes by?”
These words penned above epitomize the pain, the suffering that millions of animals endure at the hand of humans every single day.
Though killing or torturing humans is considered to be a crime instantaneously, many amongst us perhaps pay mute witnesses to incidences of animal cruelty happening all around us. The fact is that laws do exist in this country of ours for protection of cruelty towards animals. The main laws are The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. However few people and even fewer policemen and lawyers are aware of these laws and in the wake of human ignorance on these laws, animals are helpless and fall victims to needs and deeds of humans.
Overloading donkeys with bricks, exhausting the elephant and camels with over riding in a a mela or at a tourist spot, whipping the horse and the bullock pulling the tonga or the cart, stuffing the cages with chickens in your local meat shop, transporting cattle and livestock one on top of the other in trucks while being taken to slaughterhouses or even treating your pet with neglect- not providing him food or water or chaining him in the sun, killing, maiming beating an animal…each of these acts is an act of animal cruelty under either Section 11 or Section 12 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (PCA Act 1960).
PCA Act is a Central Act and is in force throughout the country/Indian territory. There are many rules drafted within this act that look into usage of animals in films i.e performing animal rules, transport of animals rules, rules for prevention of cruelty to draught and farm animals and many more. Though in terms of penal provisions these laws are still weak and in urgent need to be reformed, but that will only happen when public wants or asks for it as the animals themselves will never be able to do so, contrary to the activists who fight battles for laws to protect tribal rights or gay rights for that matter!
Many of you would have seen an overloaded mules or an overloaded bullock/horse cart on the roads every day. Most people prefer to ignore that sight but even when the very few who are aware of animal cruelty laws objects to the ‘owner’ of the animal being ill-treated to not to inflict their animal with cruelty, generally the owner objects loudly in retaliation! The reason behind this marked indifference on part of the ‘owner’ towards the pain and suffering of their very own animal is “because humans treat animals as ‘commodities’ and ‘machines’, something that they have purchased and they now ‘own’…something that they are within their rights to both, use as well as abuse!”, says Anjali Sharma, a senior advocate representing Animal Welfare Board of India.
Below is a list of what every citizen should do when they see someone inflicting cruelty upon animals:
1. Complain to the local state SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals)/Animal Welfare Organisations working in your area, though as an entity an NGO can’t enforce the law, but they can put you in touch with an animal activist who deals in filing complaints and bringing attention to such matters with legal or media-based intervention. Importantly, Animal welfare Organisations and Animal hospitals can be contacted to provide relief to the suffering animal.
2. Contact the Police: On a national level, Police are the major enforcement body for the PCA Act 1960. They are obliged to take action against the offender and render help to the suffering animals as per the procedure outlined in the PCA Act when the offence against the animal is amongst those listed in Section 11 or 12 of the PCA Act. Police are even obliged to extend help to the enforcement staff of SPCA as well as ordinary citizens to lodge a complaint/FIR against an incident of animal cruelty. If the Police doesn’t adhere to your complaint, you can also contact the magistrate directly with a written complaint.
One can also lodge a complaint under Section 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code of 1860 under which, ‘mischief of killing or maiming an animal amounts to an offence’ and the offender can be imprisoned for upto five years or a fine or both.
3. Know the law: for example a donkey should be loaded with only 35 kgs of weight at one time; the permissible loading capacity of a truck is 4 buffaloes or 40 sheep/goats. Anything over and above it is technically illegal under the law.
Learn to make a distinction of cognizable and non-cognizable offences outlined in the PCA act 1960. Section 43 of Criminal Procedure Code empowers every citizen the right to perform a ‘citizen’s arrest’ i.e the right to arrest a person who has committed in their presence a ‘cognizable’ offence, an offence for which the offender can be arrested without a warrant.
Cognizable offences under PCA Act 1962 include the following:
a) Under Section 12 of the PCA Act, 1962, injecting oxytocin injections to cows/milch animals, to improve lactation/milk-giving capacity – which is injurious to health of the animal or permitting such operation to be performed by any other person on the animal he/she ‘owns’ is a cognizable offence. However, this may be one of the most common things that you see used by local legal/illegal dairy owners throughout the country.
b) Under Section 11(1)(l), mutilating or killing any animal, including stray dogs by using poisoning methods or any other unnecessarily cruel means
c) Under Section 11(1)(n) organizing/keeping/using any place for animal fighting/baiting and receiving money on the same.
d) Under Section 11(1)(o), promoting or taking part in any shooting match or competition wherein animals are released from captivity for the purpose of shooting/killing.
4. Documentation is the ‘Key’: In your complaint, be as factual and precise of your observation of the animal crime. Give precise dates, times, locations and photographic evidence if any (while remembering to keep a photocopy with yourself). You are also advised to keep a record of all the officers you are interacting with so that if they don’t listen you can proceed to the next level in the hierarchy to demand justice for the animal/s you are fighting for. Getting a vet’s certificate for the animal in consideration would also prove to be good documentary and supporting evidence.
When reporting animal cruelty, we should look out for the following: Physical condition of the animal, telltale signs of animal cruelty, cruelty during their training and practice, housing (size of cages), overcrowding, mode of transportation, sanitation and hygiene.
5. Stand up, speak up against injustice. Never give up, keep up the effort!
The Indian Constitution, also, under Article 51 A (g) imposes upon every Indian Citizen a fundamental duty to have compassion for all living creatures. But, from subjecting animals to meaningless experiments in cosmetic-testing laboratories to killing one animal in front of the other in an illegal slaughterhouse, from holding cockfights to boiling monitor lizards alive to extract oil from their bodies, mankind does it all and that too shamelessly. It is for us who are aware and informed to keep our comforts aside momentarily and become the voice for these mute, speechless animals as they wage their lonely hopeless battle against the all powerful ‘man’.
What makes cruelty to animals morally unpardonable and unacceptable, over and above human cruelty? Humans can still protest against cruelty meted out to them, they have a voice to raise alarm, hands to hit back. The animals sadly don’t have those options either, so in effect they are defenseless in the face of the cruelty humans mete out to them, be it for their own pleasure, benefit or to fulfill their sadistic desires!
Fyodor Dostoevsky once said that, “no animal could ever be as cruel as a man, so artfully, so artistically cruel.” One would agree to it as Advocate Anjali Sharma concludes, “Perhaps humans are the worst animals ever born on this planet”.
“I don’t believe in the concept of hell, but if I did, I think it would be filled with humans who are cruel to animals”- Gary Larson
Text: Vasudha Mehta
Many a time, despite our good intent we feel helpless, we feel weak…we know we are right but don’t have the facts, be it scientific or judicial to back up our statements to convince the person we are trying to communicate our point to. At this point, we often wish and pray that someone gives us the information we so desperately need. This page is an attempt in that direction, so that when we speak about an issue and supplement it with fact/s, people know what we are trying to talk about and they take us and our words seriously. To begin with, most of the information put on these pages would be to make those who respect and care for street animals like street dogs and other animals in our neighbourhood feel stronger, as they have many a court rulings backing them up. But as we progress, we will put more information in here bordering on many social issues that deserve our attention.
Please click one the Blue underlined Text/Links below to view and download the files, as required for by you
The Laws, Important Government Documents/Directions and Court Judgements
Your suggestions and ideas are always welcome, please write to us at contact@jaagruti.org
The Permanent Link to this page is https://jaagruti.org/information-to-empower-you/. Keep checking it for regular updates. Thanks
Hands that help are better than lips that Pray! (Image Courtesy: Helping Hands-http://www.fsgp.org/storage/HH_Image.jpg)
Volunteer to provide quick medical relief to the dog who guards your street
A horrifying number of dogs and cats die because of lack of medical attention. This is all the more tragic because wounds and injuries are surprisingly simple to treat, once you’ve learnt how. Especially for very serious cases, the dog does not even need to be hospitalized. With your help, street dogs can live a happy and healthy life. Some of the most common problems that street dogs suffer from are skin infections, wounds and maggot wounds. All these can be treated easily on site, unless of course the symptoms or the injury are very severe when the dog needs to be taken to a vet or a shelter.
* Please note: This page will be regularly updated in both Hindi and English language for the benefit of those who care for their community dogs. However, it is to be noted that the information written in there is for informative purposes only. We request you to please do contact a veterinary doctor or take the animal to a shelter for thorough treatment if symptoms look grave.
For further queries or guidance, please write to us at contact@jaagruti.org or call on our helpline +91-9818 144 244
First Aid Kit:
Scissors, forceps, thermometer, chain to restrain the dog, tape to muzzle the dog (or buy a regular muzzle from a vet), adhesive tape, Gauze Bandages, cotton wool, bandages.
Medicines: Betadine Lotion and Ointment, Neosporin or Nebasulf powder, Himax Ointment (a miracle medicine for animals) or Skinoment, Betnovate Skin Cream, Soframycin skin ointment, Ivermectin – 10 ml vial, Topicure spray, Scabnil Oleo, Neem oil, antibiotic such as Cifran 500 mg (for 20 kg dog), Avil tablets (25 mg or 50 mg -depending on the age and weight of the dog), Petmosol soap, Ecktodex or Ridd, Ivermectin tablets, sulphur powder, camphor powder, boric powder, coconut oil, kerosene oil, Cetrimide Lotion (Anti-allergic wash from Piramal Healthcare)
SKIN DISEASES This is the most common problem that dogs suffer from. In the first instance, try and avoid them getting skin infections by taking precautions. Give a pinch of sulphur in the dog’s food once a week. You can also give a neem tablet (from Himalaya Drug Co.) once a week which is most effective too. If we can help treat their skin infections, it would eliminate a great deal of suffering the dog undergoes. The most common diseases are mange and scabies and fungal infection. Most dogs can be treated at site. There are various treatments:
Treatment 1 (allopathic treatment)
Treatment 2Do not apply this mixture on cats.
Treatment 3(Home remedy)Warm Coconut oil and mix 10 cubes of camphor (camphor packet available in the market) and 1 tsp sulphur powder in it. Then put in 1 tsp Boric powder in it and then kerosene oil and cool the mixture. Apply the mixture on the dog’s skin, so that it reaches the hair roots. (You can clip the hair if you cannot reach the roots. You can keep this mixture in a small glass bottle and repeat it until the dog is healed.
Some general points for skin diseases.Treatment 2 is very effective for parasitic skin disease like mange or scabies. In general we have found Treatment 3 to be very effective in heat-related skin problems. This is because of the cooling properties of camphor. At the time of application this treatment may irritate the skin and make the dog restless, but this will pass off in an hour or two. Usually dogs do not try to lick these ointments because of the strong smell. However, to be on the safe side it might be a good idea to keep the dog muzzled during application.
WOUNDS (Prevention of maggot wounds)
You may be lucky enough to spot a wound before a housefly does. Do not neglect even a small wound especially if the dog cannot reach it to lick it since they are the ones which very quickly become maggot infested. A gaping wound, however, is going to require stitches and the dog would be required to be taken to the vet. If it doesn’t, then you can treat it yourself.
Medicine: Betadine lotion, Neosporin powder, Himax ointment.
Treatment:
1. Clean the wound with Betadine lotion.
2. Sprinkle Neosporin (or Nebasulf) powder liberally into the wound.
3. Put Himax on the wound liberally to keep away flies so that it doesn’t become a maggot wound. If the dog has a caretaker, try leaving Himax with him and tell him to apply it on the wound everyday until it heals.
MAGGOT WOUNDS. An open, round and deep wound with bleeding and which also gives out a foul smell are usually clear indication of a maggot wound (see image). Since it is a painful procedure, the dog must be muzzled when it is being treated. Do not treat head wounds but take the dog to a vet or a shelter.
An exhaustive article on treating Maggot wounds can be read here https://jaagruti.org/2013/08/06/treating-dogs-with-maggot-infestations/
Medicine: Ivermectin 10ml vial, Topicure Spray, Betadine lotion, Nebasulf/Neosporin Powder, Lorexane ointment, Himax
Treatment:
How to tie a muzzle to treat a dog?
Remember: Use the muzzle only for treating a dog for a few minutes as the dog can get overheated.
If you have more time at hand, please watch the videos below (uploaded on You Tube by Voice of Stray Dogs) and listen to Dr. Pavan, Founder of Cessna Lifeline Veterinary Hospital in Bangalore. He explains in this two part series as to how to attend to and intervene effectively on Medical emergencies in Animals
* Please note: This information is for informative purposes. Please do contact a veterinary doctor or take the animal to a shelter for thorough treatment if symptoms look grave. For further queries or guidance, please write to contact@jaagruti.org or call us on +91-9818 144 244
First Aid for Dogs- text translated in Hindi can be read below
कुत्तों के लिए प्राथमिक चिकित्सा
सड़क पर रहने वाले कुत्ते और बिल्लियाँ अक्सर उपचार के आभाव में मारे जाते हैं, यह बात बहुत दुखद: है, क्योंकि उनकी मृत्यु का कारण रहे घाव व चोटें आश्चर्यचकित रूप से बहुत आसानी से ठीक किये जा सकते हैं, एकबार आप ने सीख लिया की यह उपचार कैसे किया जाए विशेषतः कुछ गंभीर स्थितियों में, जब कुत्ते को अस्पताल में रखने की जरुरत नही होती, आप सडकों पर रहने वाले कुत्तों की सु:खद व स्वस्थ जीवन जीने में सहायता कर सकते हैं|
त्वचा सम्बन्धी संक्रमण, घाव व कृम घाव वे सामान्य समस्याओं में से कुछ हैं जिनसे सड़क पर रहने वाले कुत्ते सबसे अधिक पीड़ित होते हैं| इन सभी समस्याओं का आसानी से यथा स्थान उपचार किया जा सकता है (यद्यपि ये इतने गंभीर न हों की कुत्ते को पशुचिकित्सक या आश्रय स्थल में ले जाने की जरुरत हो )
प्राथमिक चिकित्सा किट (विषय-वस्तु):
एक बार आपके पास प्राथमिक चिकित्सा किट का सारा सामान हो तो आप किसी भी जरूरतमंद कुत्ते को समय पर चिकित्सा उपलब्ध कराने के लिए तैयार हैं | नीचे दी गई औषधियाँ साधारण रूप से कुत्तों के लिए हैं, और संग्रह करके भविष्य में उपयोग के लिए रखी जा सकती हैं | यह सभी औषधियाँ किसी भी पशु-औषधि विक्रेता के पास उपलब्ध होती हैं |
कैंची, चिमटा, थर्मामीटर, कुत्ते को बंधने के लिए चेन, कुत्ते का मुहं बंधने के लिए फीता (और पशु चिकित्सक के पास उपलब्ध नियमित मज़ल टेप खरीदें), चिपकने वाला टेप, गाज़, पट्टी रुई व टॉर्च. दवाइयाँ:: Betadine Lotion, Nebasulf or Neosporin powder, Himax Ointment (पशुओं के लिए एक चमत्कारी औषधि), turpentine oil and chloroform mixture), Topicure spray, Scabnil Oleo, neem oil, antibiotic such as Cifran 500 mg (for 20 kg dog), Avil tablets, Petmosol soap, Ecktodex or Ridd, sulphur powder, camphor powder.
घाव (बचाव कृम/मगट घावों से) आप भाग्यशाली होंगे यदि आप घाव को घरेलु मक्खी से पहले देख लें, छोटे से घाव को अनदेखा न करें यही घाव जल्दी कष्टदायक
इसके लिए आवश्यकता है: Betadine lotion, Neosporin powder, Himax ointment.
1. घाव को Betadine lotion से साफ करें 2. Nebsulf Powder या Neosporin Powder को उदारता से घाव पर छिड़कें 3. Himax घाव पर लगाएं यह मक्खियों को दूर रखेगा और घाव को कीड़ों वाला घाव नही बनने देगा| यदि कुत्ते की देखभाल करने के लिए कोई हो तो कोशिश करें की Himax Powder उसके पास रहे, उसे घाव पर लगाने के लिए कहें जब तक घाव ठीक न हो जाए|
उपचार के लिए कुत्ते का मुहँ कैसे बांधें
कुत्ते का मुँह केवल उपचार के लिए कुछ मिनटों के लिए बांधें क्योंकि इससे कुत्ते के शारीरिक तापमान में वृद्धि हो सकती है, जो उसके लिए हानिकारक है |
त्वचा सम्बन्धी संक्रमण
यह सबसे साधारण समस्या है जो कुत्तों में पाई जाती है | सर्वप्रथम कोशिश करें की संक्रमण बचाव के द्वारा टाला जा सके | चुटकी भर सल्फर कुत्ते के खाने में हफ्ते में एक बार मिलाएँ, आप नीम की गोली (आयुर्वेदिक) दे सकते हैं जो बहुत ही प्रभावकारी है, यदि हम इनके त्वचा संक्रमण का उपचार कर सकें तो यह उस कष्ट को बहुत हद तक कम कर सकता है जिसे कुत्ता इस संक्रमण के समय सहन करता है Mange व Scabies व Fungal Infection कुत्तों में सबसे अधिक होने वाली त्वचा की बीमारियाँ हैं|अधिकतर कुत्तों का यथास्थान पर ही उपचार किया जा सकता है, इनके विभिन उपचार हैं |
उपचार 1 (एलोपेथिक उपचार)
1. अगर सम्भव है तो कुत्ते को Petmosol साबुन से नहलायें (इसे हफ्ते में एक बार दोहराएँ जब तक कुत्ता ठीक न हो जाए) 2. Ektodex 1 लीटर पानी में 1 चम्मच (या बोतल पर जैसा निर्देशित है ) घोल कर कुत्ते के शरीर पर लगाएं |नोट: यह दवाइयाँ जहरीली हो सकतीं हैं, कुत्ता इसे चाट न पाए कुत्ते को जब तक चलायें जब सूख न जाए |3. Anti-biotic दवाइयाँ भी दी जानी चाहियें, क्योंकि कुत्ते द्वारा लगातार खुजाने से बैक्टिरिअल इन्फेक्शन हो सकता है |. Amoxycillin दिन में 2 बार दी Vitamin B कैप्सूल के साथ दी जा सकती है | Avil भी दे सकतें हैं |
उपचार 2. इस मिश्रण को बिल्लियों पर न लगाएं | Scabnil oleo को बराबर मात्रा में नीम तेल के साथ मिलाएं, कुत्ते पर ब्रुश की सहायता से लगाएं, हर 4 दिन में इसे दोहराएँ | Scabnil oleo में मुख्य सामग्री Karanj oil है, जो एक शक्तिशाली एंटी-फंगल एजेंट है |नीम का तेल भी लाभदायक एंटी-फंगल है |
उपचार 3. Sulphur Powder व कपूर बराबर मात्रा में अच्छी तरह मिलाएं इसमें नारियल का तेल डालें और मिलाएं, ध्यान रहे इसमें गाँठें न पड़ें, एवं मिश्रण तरल गाड़ा बने, यदि यह अधिक गाड़ा व गांठवाला होगा तो कुत्ते के शरीर से गिर जाएगा और अधिक तरल होगा तो यह कुत्ते के शरीर पर फ़ैल कर नही लग पायेगा| मिश्रण को कुत्ते पर सिर से पीठ की विपरीत दिशा में लगाएं ताकि यह बालों की जड़ तक पहुँच सके, इसे न रगड़े केवल पर्याप्त परत ही लगाएं | हर 4 दिन में इस प्रक्रिया को दोहराएँ जब तक कुत्ता ठीक न हो जाए |
त्वचा रोगों पर कुछ सामान्य बातें
पेट्स व कम्युनिटी पेट्स का एंटी-रेबीज व डिस्टेम्पर के टीकों से वार्षिक टीकाकरण इन खतरनाक बीमारियों को दूर रखने के लिए किया जाना चाहिए |
कृपया खुराक की मात्रा कुत्ते के आकार अनुसार तय करें |
*अस्वीकरण: यह सूचना मात्र जानकारी हेतु है, संदेह की स्थिति में कृपया अपने पशु चिकित्सक से सम्पर्क करें.
For further queries or guidance, please write to us at contact@jaagruti.org or call on our helpline +91-9818 144 244
“किसी भी राष्ट्र की पहचान इसी से होती है की उसके यहाँ जीव-जंतुओं से कैसा व्यवहार किया जाता है”
– महात्मा गाँधी”
Conservative estimates say that a politician spends about 5 crore Indian Rupees in an election campaign to become an MP (Member of Parliament in India, here’s why…..
It PAYS to be a POLITICIAN in India! (Image courtesy: http://www.jsrschools.com/index.php/2009/12/23262/)
The following statistics give us the answer:
Salary & Govt. Concession for a Member of Parliament (MP)Monthly Salary :
Now we know, why so many people yearn to be politicians and MP for it PAYS to be a Government SERVANT in India!!
(Note on Credits: Learnt about this through comments posted by Siddhartha Misra and Ramesh Menon on Harvijay Singh Bahia‘s post on Facebook, thus sharing, because such statistics are worth sharing with the whole world)
Red Terror hits street dogs of India!
Street Dogs in India are known to be the most intelligent dogs in the world..no wonder police commissioners in many states have instructed local police stations to befriend the neighbourhood street dogs so that they can alert them to the threat of attack by naxals or other anti-social elements.
There have been cases reported of terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir resorting to killing village dogs prior to infiltering into a village to set up base. Now, the below news clipping (February 26th, 2010 dated news clipping in The Times of India, Chennai Edition) points out to what Naxals are resorting to ahead of police actions, the Maoists are killing street dogs and pets because they bark at them for obvious reasons and that ends up alerting the police of their presence.
One would think that only innocent people are being targeted by the Naxals and the Terrorists, well, that’s not true, no one knows how many dogs have lost their lives at their hands uptil now. The terrorists and naxals are known to kill street dogs before they plan an assault/attach on a human residential area. This is because street dogs being so territorial and guarding of their area will bark at the first ‘sniff’ trouble/threat that they sense from ‘outsiders’. So, please understand that the street dog you may be maligning or terming a nuisance, just because it barks, is not ‘barking without a valid reason’, he is guarding your homes, the streets in the neighbourhood from untoward people and incidents and alerting you instead. So, the next time you hear a dog barking, make an effort to understand whom he is trying to warn you against and be vigilant.
Hail the Indian street dog!
Make an effort to look at your community street dogs with a bit of respect and also look after them, for unknown to many of us, they keep many of us safe from unwanted elements, robberies and thefts.
Recent news stories filed on this subject:
News from Jharkhand: 13th March, 2010
Maoists start killing dogs in Jharkhand, Bengal
Animal rights group sees red over Maoists’ ‘kill dogs’ call
News from Bihar: 12th March, 2010
Do not kill dogs, animal-lovers tell Maoists
News from West Bengal: 11th March 2010
नौकरशाह जब रिटायर होता है तो अपने अनुभव को आधार बनाकर मुख्य रूप से तीन बातों पर अपना ध्यान केन्द्रित करता है. पहला, किसी गैर सरकारी एजंसी में अपनी नियुक्ति को सबसे अधिक प्राथमिकता देता है. दूसरा, अखबारों में लेख लिखता है और उन सिद्धांतों की व्याख्या करना शुरू करते हैं जिनके बारे में वे खुद ठीक से कुछ नहीं जानते और तीसरा, जहां वे रहते हैं उस कालोनी या घेरेबन्द इलाके का मुखिया होने की कोशिश करते हैं. इन घेरेबंद कालोनियों की रेसिडेन्ट वेलफेयर एसोसिएशनों के मुखिया बनते ही उनका पहला और पसंदीदा कार्य होता है कालोनियों में विचरण करनेवाले गली के कुत्तों के खिलाफ अभियान.
दिल्ली में ऐसा ही होता है. नौकरशाहों के स्वर्ग इस शहर में हाल में ही दिल्ली में ऐसे ही लोगों के एक समूह ने उनके ‘पागल, पीड़ित पड़ोसियों’ से उन्हें बचाने के लिए उच्च न्यायालय में एक अर्जी पेश की है। इन नौकरशाहों के असभ्य जाहिल और गरीब पड़ोसी गली के आवारा कुत्तों को रोटी खिलाते हैं और उससे भी बड़ा अपराध ये कि उन्हें प्यार भी करते हैं. कालोनी निवासियों के हर घर में भले ही एक डॉगी डींगे भर रहा हो लेकिन इन निवासियों को यह मंजूर नहीं है कि सड़क पर रहनेवाले लोग सड़क पर विचरनेवाले कुत्तों को प्यार करें या उनका संरक्षण करें. इन सब लोगों के लिए अब यही एक आखिरी सहारा है अपने लिए न्याय और मन की शान्ति पाने का क्योंकि बहुत समय तक इन दिल्लीवासियों को अपने पड़ोसियों का उपहास, धमकियाँ, गालियाँ और ब्लैकमेलिंग का िशकार बनना पड़ा है क्योंकि वह अपनी गली के कुत्तो की परवाह करने का रोज `अपराध´ करते हैं। सवाल यह है कि क्या अपनी गली के कुत्तो को पुचकारना या उन्हें खाना खिलाना एक `गलती´ है?
कोर्ट का निर्णय एक तरफ और सरकार द्वारा ऐसे आवारा कुत्तों की नसबंदी का प्रयास भी एक तरफ लेकिन हमारी सड़कों पर घूमने वाले आवारा कुत्तों के बारे में हमें भी ठीक से जानने की जरूरत है। देश के कई शहरों में सरकारी एजेिन्सयाँ गैर सरकारी संघटनों के साथ मिलकर पशु जन्म नियंत्रण और टीकाकरण कार्यक्रम संचालित करती हैं। लेकिन हम भूल जाते हैं कि भारत के सड़क पर रहने वाल आवारा कुत्ते बेहद ही बुद्धिमान प्रजाति है जो दुनिया की सबसे पुरानी कुत्तों की नस्लों में से एक है। यह प्रजाति एिशया और अफ्रीका में स्थापित पहली मनुश्य बस्तियों से इन्सानों के साथ खुशी-खुशी मौजूद रही हैं वास्तव मेें शहरी बस्तियों में इन कुत्तों का प्राथमिक उद्देश्य मनुश्य की रक्षा करना और बची खुची खाद्य वस्तुओं का सेवन करके सफाई रखने में है। यह ही वजह है कि आज भी गरीबों की बस्तियों में कुत्तों को ज्यादातर स्थानीय निवासी खाना खिलाते हैं।
पशु नसबंदी टीकाकरण और उन्हें पुन: अपने मूल क्षेत्र में छोड़ने का कार्यक्रम वैज्ञानिकों द्वारा इसका औचित्य सिद्ध करने में विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन को कई साल लगे हैं। दुनिया भर की न्यायपालिकाओं, नागरिक संगठनों ने इस कार्यक्रम को अपनाया है और इसकी सफल्ता की कहानियाँ आज की तारीख में दुनिया के कई शहरों से सुनने को मिलती है, जिनकी शुरूआत अमरीका से हुई थी। कुत्तों की नसबंदी करने की अवधारणा अमेरिका की सैन मात्तियो नामक काउन्टी के नागरिक अधिकारियों के दिमाग में तब आई जब उन्होंने देखा कि कुत्तों को मारने के उनका कार्यक्रम से उनकी आबादी में कोई गिरावट नहीं हो रही थी। इसके बाद सैन मात्तियो काउन्टी ने कुत्तों का नसबंदीकरण कराने के प्रस्ताव को स्वीकृति दी जो कि एक महान सफलता साबित हुई। आज अमेरिका और कनाड़ा के विभिन्न भागों में इसका सफलतापूर्वक संचालन किया जा रहा है।
नसबंदीकृत कुत्तों को उनके मूल निवास क्षेत्र पर बहाल करने के पीछे वैज्ञानिक सोच हैं कुत्ते प्रादेिशक जानवर हैं। वे भोजन की उपलब्धि के आधार पर अपने प्रदेश को अंकित करते है। और बाहरी कुत्तों को अपने क्षेत्र में नहीं आने दते। जब कुत्तों को अपने क्षेत्र से हटाया जाता है तो बाहर से दूसरे कुत्ते इस खाली क्षेत्र पर कब्जा कर लेंगे क्योंकि वहाँ भोजन स्त्रोत अभी भी उपलब्ध हैं जब कोई बाहर का कुत्ता किसी कुत्ते के क्षेत्र में घुसता है तो उनके बीच में लड़ाइयाँ बढ़ती है और नसबन्धिकृत ना होने के कारण यह बच्चे पैदा करते रहते हैं और उस क्षेत्र में कुत्तों की संख्या बढ़ती रहती है। इन बाहरी कुत्तों के नसबन्धिकृत और रेबीज के विरूद्ध टीकाकरण ना होने का कारण उस क्षेत्र के निवासियों के लिए खतरा बना रहता है। एक नसबंधीकृत कुत्ते को रेबीज के विरूद्ध टीकाकरण भी किया जाता है, वह प्रजनंन नहीं करते, शान्त रहते हैं, अपने क्षेत्र को सुरक्षित करते है औरी ना ही आपस में लड़ते-भौंकते है। एक नसबंधीकृत कुत्तों को उसके एक आधे-कटे कान से पहचाना जा सकता है। पशु जन्म नियंत्रण दिल्ली में पिछले कई वर्षों से संचालित है – इन वर्षों में रेबीज के किस्सों में भी कमी आई है जो कि सरकारी और गैर-सरकारी संगंठनों की एक उल्लेखनीय उपलब्धि है।
विश्व स्वास्थ्य संगठन और भारतीय पशु कल्याण बोर्ड द्वारा किए गए अध्ययनों से पता चलता है कि कुत्तों की जनसंख्या पर नियंत्रण पाने के लिए जो कार्यक्रम विकसित देशों में काम करते है वह विकासशील देशों में असफल रहे हैं क्योंकि वहाँ पर शहरी स्थितियाँ हमारे यहाँ से बहुत अलग है। भारत के शहरी पर्यावरण में ऐसी दो विशेषताएँ है जो आवारा जानवरों की आबादी में वृद्धि को प्रोत्साहित करती हैं :- मलिन बिस्त्याँ और उजागर कचरा, जो कि विकसित देशों में मौजूद नहीं है। विकसित देशों में आवारा कुत्तों का सड़क पर जीवित रहना असंभव है क्योंकि उन्हें सड़कों पर कुछ खाने को नहीं मिलता, इसलिए उन्हें पकड़ कर आश्रयघरों में ले जाया जाता है जहाँ उनकी नसबंदी करके उनका पुनर्वास करवाने का प्रयत्न किया जाता है।
कुत्तों की जनसंख्या को नियंत्रित रखने के लिए उन्हें `पकड़ने और मारने´ का कार्यक्रम अंग्रेजों ने 19वीं सदी में शुरु किया था। आजादी पाने के बाद भी भारत की नगरपालिकाओं ने इस कार्यक्रम को जारी रखा। दिल्ली नगर निगम द्वारा किए गये एक अध्ययन के अनुसार 1980-1990 के दौरान 8 लाख कुत्तों का कत्लेआम करने के बावजूद दिल्ली में कुत्तों की संख्या 1.5 लाख ही रही और उसमें तिनके भर की कमी नहीं हुई। 1993 में नगर निगम ने स्वीकार किया कि कुत्तों को `पकड़ने और मारने´ की यह योजना पूरी तरह से रेबीज और कुत्तों की जनसंख्या को नियंत्रण करने में `असफल´ नही है। इसलिए सन् 1994 में न्यायपालिका ने आदेश दिया कि कुत्तों की हत्या करनी बन्द करी जाए और उनकी `नसबंदी और टीकाकरण´ कार्यक्रम शुरू किया जाए जिससे पशु-जन्म नियंत्रण का कार्यक्रम भी कहा जाता है। मुंबई, कोलकता, चेन्नई, जयपुर और हैदराबाद की उच्च न्यायालयों के भी ऐसे आदेश जारी करने के बाद इन शहरों में भी `पशु-जन्म नियंत्रण के लिए कुत्तों की नसबन्दीकरण और टीकाकरण कार्यक्रम शुरू किए गए। इस कार्यक्रम के तुरन्त अच्छे नतीजे देखने के बाद भारत सरकार ने 2001 में देश भर में इस कार्यक्रम को शुरू करने के आदेश दिए।
एक आश्चर्यजनक सत्य यह है कि जिस बात के लिए गली के कुत्ते बदनाम है वह हरकत वे बहुत कम करते हैं. कुत्तों के काटने की जो घटनाएँ होती हैं इनमें से बहुत कम आवारा कुत्तों की वजह से होती हैं। अध्ययनों से पता चला है कि 90 प्रतिशत से भी अधिक कुत्तों के काटने की घटनाएँ पालतू कुत्तों की वजह से होती है जो कि अपने घर और क्षेत्र की सुरक्षा करते हुए आक्रमक हो जाते हैं। हर साल पालतु कुत्तों की संख्या में वृद्धि हाती है और साथ ही कुत्तों के काट-खाने की घटनाओं में भी। सिर्फ 5 प्रतिशत घटनाएँ आवारा कुत्तों की वजह से होती है जो या तो कुत्तों को कॉलोनी निवासियों द्वारा पीटे जाने या मादा कुत्तिया द्वारा उसके बच्चे को नुकसान पहुंचाए जाने के कारण इंसान पर हमला कर बैठती हैं।
गली के कुत्ते प्रकृति में शहर के कूड़े-करकट को साफ रखने का एक माध्यम है। वह शहर में चूहों और अन्य कृतंक कीटों की संख्या को नियंत्रण में रखते हैं, जिनको नियंत्रण में रखना मानव के लिए मुिश्कल है। यदि इन कुत्तों को भारत के शहरों से पूरी तरह हटा दिया जाए तो नाकि कूड़ा भारी मात्रा में जमा हो जाएगा बल्कि चूहों की संख्या भी हाथ से निकल जाएगी। आज, जब भारत के कई शहर डेंगू और चिकुनगुन्या जैसी बीमारियों से अपनी मैली नागरिक स्थितियों के कारण जूझ रहे हैं, उस समय यह गली के कुत्ते ही है जो शहरों में चूहों की आबादी को जाँच में रखते है – चूहे `ब्युबोनिक प्लेग´ जैसी घातक बीमारी के वाहक हैं। चूहों की एक जोड़ी पैदा होने के छ: सप्ताह के भीतर प्रजनन के लिए तैयार हो जाती है। इस दर पर चूहो की एक जोड़ी प्रत्येक वर्ष के अंत तक 35000 चूहों में बदल जाती है। आज की तारीख तक किसी भी नगर निगम ने चूहों का विनाश करने के लिए किसी भी योजना में एक पैसा भी आवंटित नहीं किया है। 1980 में गुजरात के सूरत शहर का भयानक प्लेग बीमारी से संक्रमित होने का एक कारण यह भी था कि स्थानीय नगरपालिका ने सूरत शहर की सड़कों पर रहने वाले कुत्तों को बेरहमी से मार डाला था।
भारत जैसे देश में सारे सड़क के कुत्तों को एकाग्रता िशविरों या डॉग-पाउण्ड में ठूस देना व्यावहारिक रूप से असंभव है। ऐसे कार्य को करने के लिए जगह, समय और संसाधन सरकार कहाँ से पैदा करेगी। जब झुग्गी बस्तियों में रहने वालों या आवासीय क्षेत्रों से वाणििज्यक प्रतिष्ठनों को बाहर निकालने के लिए तो कोई जगह है नहीं। इसलिए समझदारी तो बस इसमें है कि सड़क के कुत्तों को उनकी जगह पर रहने दिया जाए। असल में हर जिम्मेदार और मानवीय निवासी कल्याण संघ को इस कार्यक्रम का भागीदार बनना चाहिए और अपने शहर में काम करने वाली नगर पालिकाओें द्वारा संचालित पशु-जन्म नियन्त्रण कार्यक्रम के अन्तर्गत अपने क्षेत्र के आवारा कुत्तों का नसबंदीकरण और नियमित टीकाकरण कराना चाहिए। पशुओं के मामले में स्वामित्व का सवाल तो उठता ही नहीं है, जब हम आज आदिवासियों को उस वन भूमि पर रहने का अधिकार देने वाले बिल को पारित करने की बात करते है जहाँ यह आदिवासी सदियों से जी रहे है तो पशुओें के मामले में उनका जन्मसिद्ध अधिकार उसी जगह पर रहने का है जहाँ वो पैदा हुए हैं।
कुत्तों की हत्या करके रेबीज पर नियंत्रण पाने के कार्यक्रम कई विकासशील देशों में जैसे कि – पाकिस्तन, इरान, इराक, साउदी अरब, उत्तर कोरिया, अफगानिस्तान, जार्डन, सीरिया, यमन, बांगलादेश, नेपाल, यूक्रेन, उज्बेकिस्तान – हर जगह ही `नाकाम´ रहे हैं। कुत्ता आदमी का सबसे ईमानदार और वफादार दोस्त है और हम में से कई लोगों को जरा सा भी नुकसान नहीं होगा अगर हम अपने गली में रह रहे एक कुत्ते को दिन में एक बार अगर कुछ खिला या पिला दिया करें। अगर हम यह करें तो मैं दावे के साथ यह कह सकती हूँ कि आपको अपने घर के दरवाजे पर हमेशा अपनी पूंछ फड़फड़ाता एक साथी नज़र आएगा जो रोज शाम आपके थकान भरे दिन के बाद आपका दिल खोलकर स्वागत करेगा। इस बेहद स्वार्थी दुनिया में बिना शर्त प्यार और सम्मान की लालसा हम सब करते है और शायद इस लालसा की पूर्ति करने के लिए आपका बेहतरीन साथी आपकी गली का कुत्ता है।
This article was first published here
{The above Video was made for a group by the name of ‘People for Animals’, we are sharing and embedding it here on Jaagruti because it beautifully communicates the story of the Indian Street Dog}
Bureaucrats who retire do one of three things: they lobby to be appointed to some government body so that they can retain their houses; and more often than not they stand for Residents Welfare Associations so that they can bully someone or they write article for the newspapers and the less they know , the more they expound their theories…and more often than not for most RWAs across Delhi and NCR, their favourite subject is ‘Dogs in their colonies’…this article comes at a time when a group of people in Delhi have moved to the High Court with a plea to ’save them from their rabid neighbours’. This is perhaps their last resort to seek justice and peace of mind, because for far too long, many of these Delhiites had been ridiculed and abused, threatened and blackmailed by their (‘rabid’) neighbours for a ‘crime’ of theirs; the fault being that these group of people ‘loved and cared for the street dogs, their much friendlier neighbourhood denizen’.
This article is a humble attempt to enlighten you all about our friendly neighbourhood street dog and clear the facts about the utility of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Vaccination Programme run by the Delhi Government (MCD and NDMC) through about 7 partner NGOs in Delhi for these canines.
India has been home to the highly intelligent Pariah dog, one of the world’s oldest canine breeds, existing in Asia and Africa since human beings first started living in settlements. They co-exist happily with humans, in fact their primary aim in urban settlements is to protect humans and to act as scavengers. It is not for no reason that each dog is fed by local residents and occupies pride of place in poor settlements.
The rationale of the animal sterilization, vaccination and re-release to its original area is a scientifically worked out programme which took years to evolve by WHO, civic authorities the judiciary, backed by success stories round the world starting from America. The concept of sterilization of dogs itself came from San Mateo in the United States, when civic authorities realized that killing dogs had not lead to any decrease in the dog-population. The County of San Mateo passed the resolution to sterilize and this was a great success. This programme is being followed successfully in various parts of America and Canada and many other developed as well as developing nations.
There is scientific thought behind restoring a sterilized dog to his original habitat. Dogs are territorial animals. They mark out their territories based on the food available and they do not let outsiders come in. When these local dogs are removed from their territory, other dogs move in to occupy them. These may not be sterilized so the problem continues for that locality. Dog fights increase as any new dog entering a territory is attacked by the dogs already in that area and non-sterilized dogs continue to mate and produce litters. Rabies continues to spread as none of the dogs in that area are vaccinated against it. The new dogs are hostile to the residents so problems of safety continue. A sterilized and vaccinated dog doesn’t breed, they guard their territory from intruders and new dogs, they become docile and don’t fight with other dogs during the mating season. You can identify a sterilized and a vaccinated dog by a triangular notch on one of its ears.
The ABC programme has been in place for many years now – and noticeably the rabies incidences have reduced, which is a remarkable achievement by the civic authorities and the NGOs.
Studies by the World Health Organization and the Animal Welfare Board of India show that dog-population control measures which work in developed countries are unsuccessful in developing countries like ours since urban conditions are very different over here. The urban environment in India has two features that encourage stray animal populations-exposed garbage and slums-neither of which exists in developed countries. Stray dogs in developed countries are unable to survive or breed on city streets since they can find nothing to eat. Hence, over there, they are captured, housed in animal shelters, neutered and re-homed.
The ‘catch and kill’ concept of controlling dog-population was started by the British in the 19th Century. It was continued on a large scale after Independence by the municipal authorities all over India with the aims of eradicating rabies and controlling street dog populations. Statistics in a study done by the MCD from 1980 to 1990 showed that even after the slaughtering of 8 lakh dogs during the 10-year period, the estimated dog population in Delhi remained 1.5 lakhs. – MCD could not reduce the population even by one. By 1993, the ‘catch and kill’ method was admitted to be a complete failure since rabies deaths had actually increased and the dog population was also perceptibly growing. Thus, in 1994, the courts ordered the dog-sterilization-cum-vaccination programme (popularly known as the “Animal Birth Control” or ABC programme) to replace the killing. Similar programmes were started in Mumbai, Kolkatta, Chennai, Jaipur, and Hyderabad after the High Courts in these cities passed similar orders. Finally, seeing the immediate success of the programme, in 2001, the Government of India has ordered this all over India with the Animal Birth Control (for Dogs) Rules being notified in 2001 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960.
Dog-bites are very rarely due to stray dogs. Studies show that over 90% of the dog bites are from pet dogs that are aggressive when it comes to defending their territory or repelling intruders to their homes. Every year the numbers of pet-dogs increase and so do the bites. The 5 % of bites which are due to strays are from dogs that have been hurt by colony residents or bitches whose puppies were being attacked.
Dog is nature’s city scavenger. Its specific purpose is to keep garbage, city rats and other non-rodent pests that do not respond to human control in check. If it is removed then, apart from the piling up of huge quantities of garbage, the rat population will also go out of hand. With many cities in India suffering from Dengue and Chikugunya due to unhygienic civic conditions, it is dogs that are responsible for keeping the city’s rat population under check. Rats are the carriers of the deadly bubonic plague disease. One pair of rats is ready for breeding within six weeks of being born. Each pair turns into 35,000 rats by the end of each year. No municipal corporation has till date allocated a single-paisa for the destruction of rats. In 1980, one of the reasons why Surat in Gujarat was infected with plague was the decimation of the city’s street dogs by the local municipality.
It is practically impossible in a country like ours to dump all street dogs into concentration camps or dog pounds. Where is the space, time and resources to carry out this exercise when there is no space to shift commercial establishments out of residential areas or rehabilitate the slum dwellers?
It makes more sense to let the dog live where it belongs. In fact every responsible and humane RWA should contribute and become a partner in getting their dogs sterilized and vaccinated at any of the animal hospitals set up in Delhi for this purpose.
The question of ownership doesn’t arise in this case at all. We talk of passing bills that would give tribals the right to live on forest lands on which they have been living for ages. In case of animals, the place where they are born is the place to which they belong.
The killing method has failed to control rabies in developing countries -including Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, North Korea, Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. Most of these countries have now adopted the Indian method of ABC.
Dogs are a man’s best friend…and it won’t harm many of us if we were to feed the dog in our street once a day, and we can be sure that we would have a friend by our doorstep delightful to see us every time we step out or come home after a long tiring day…and in this selfish world, it is unconditional love and respect that we all crave for and our very own street dog is perhaps our best bet!
To read this article in Hindi language, please click here यह गली के कुत्ते.
If you have some time to spare and few thoughts to spare as well, watch the Videos below, may be you will end up changing your mind and be kind the next time you see our very own Indian Dog on the street.
{The above Video was made for a group by the name of ‘People for Animals’, we are sharing and embedding it here on Jaagruti because it beautifully communicates the story of the Indian Street Dog}