About 15 years ago, I observed that Parle had 2-3 packs of stray
dogs. These had increased dramatically around 2003-2004. Subsequently
Parle has seen a decrease in number of dogs following enforcement of
door-to-door garbage collection. I doubt if any formal dog census has been done; none of the dogs wear collars- which suggests that they are not under any kind of regular surveillance.
About 5 years ago a young school-girl was
attacked by a pack of dogs as she waited for her school bus in Tejpal Scheme. A
horrifying incident, but had a short-lived impact. A few dogs were
caught, then within weeks the matter died down. No further attention has ever
been drawn to the subject thereafter.
Now street dogs continue to be a common sight. Stray dogs are
scary when they try to come close and sniff at you; never know what they are
thinking. Any passer- by has a fair chance of injury when a dog- fight is in
progress- which is quite often. Stray dogs do their toilet and copulation
in full public view, which is a nuisance and health hazard. And there is ever
present danger of getting Rabies.
Every lane in Parle East has a 'kind person' feeding the dogs-
milk, biscuits, left-over food, chapattis and very occasionally ‘dog food’. The
food is left at street corners, footpaths- most of the food left out for dogs
is rejected by them and continues to lie there, creating nuisance to everyone.
In addition to forming a stinking ugly heap, it attracts all manner of flies,
crows and rats- and all in all the mess is really unbearable. My sympathies are
for Parlekars who are forced to use the walkways claimed by these social
workers as feeding spots.
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| Biscuits on footpath |
Just doing the part-time service of feeding left-overs or
inappropriate food (like PARLE G biscuits) is not enough. The dogs need
affection, protection, medical care also. I have been witness to the shabby treatment
received by stray dogs- because no one is in- charge of them. People generally
throw stones, kick them when they are sleeping peacefully, put water on them,
etc. I have even witnessed a small dog being sexually abused by a drunk person-
he was handling its genitals as well as his own- in full public view in the
centre of PARLA Market. It’s horrible.
This stray dog problem is
created and maintained by Parlekars only. Parlekars cannot expect MCGM to solve
the problem by catching and culling the dogs or by sterilisation. After
removing the dogs, if our habits don’t change, dogs will migrate from other
areas- to eat the rubbish left around- and problem will recur immediately. Sterilisation
will also not serve the purpose- the rule of nature is to increase population
to consume available resources. So if dogs cannot re-produce, some will migrate
from elsewhere. The problem needs to be sorted out- in a humane, sensible and
scientifically- informed manner.
Parlekars should stop
throwing food and garbage everywhere. If one has so much sympathy for stray
dogs, adoption is a good option. ‘Kind’ people should take full responsibility
of the dogs-not only to feed them but to take proper care of them. If it is not
feasible to keep dogs with them at home- a few Parlekars can come together to
start a dog shelter- MCGM is bound to support such initiative. Or these
Parlekars should rescue the dogs and admit them in shelters elsewhere. Dogs,
too, are citizens and deserve a safe and dignified life.
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