India to Sterilize 8 Million Stray Dogs
The Central Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) in India has launched a plan to sterilize over 8 million dogs over the next ten years. The mission: to eradicate rabies from India as quickly as possible. It is estimated that each year over 20,000 people die of rabies in India while at the same time over four billion rupees (close to 80m USD) worth of vaccines against rabies are being imported by the country every year.
The move, which has so far received a good response from society as well as animal welfare organizations is indeed a right step and a better option than the mass-slaughter practice currently used in neighboring China.
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The problem of stray dogs in India has been persistent for several decades. It is more prominent in urban areas with high population density. Rabies is a global problem and incidents of varying magnitude are reported from time to time. Thus efforts of all sorts are made to curb the disease all over the world. In India, the common practice is to check the number of stray dogs and keep them in specially made kennels. However, both the lack of funding and the right skills for sterilization are often roadblocks in eradicating rabies.
With the launching of this program, the above issues will definitely be resolved and it will also give an impetus to all animal welfare organizations nationwide to successfully carry out stray sterilization. In fact the very program of the MoEF has been conceived after the newly appointed Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh released the book on Standard Operating Procedures for Sterilization of Stray Dogs Under the Animal Birth Control Programme, published by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
The AWBI has been working in the Southern Indian metropolitan area of Chennai and has already been successful in making it a rabies-free city. If implemented effectively, we’d soon have a rabies-free India!
Image By Gregor_y via Flickr over a Creative Commons License
This is horrible, and quite an atrocity.
If Gandhi’s quote is to be used here:
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its lowest and voiceless members (animals) are treated”
The practice is apalling in that we don’t force sterlization of our own species, and to do so would readily (and understandably) be considered a gross humanitarian violation.
I live in India, but 8 million is a drop in the bucket in contrast to how many there really are. It’s ridiculous. One has to follow the practice of SSS in certain areas.
This is great news.
Let’s hope for two things: it works and China takes note.
Does anyone remember Asrani, Govinda and stray dogs in police lock up in the film - Dulhe Raja! I hope this is not the way we are going to manage it. LOL.
Anyway, let us come down to earth. Recently I was on a tour to a high altitude mountain. The most interesting thing is that these stray friends of man are spotted even at altitudes of 13000 ft. Interesting.
It will be nice. I hate to see these half fed poor creatures roaming for food, half of them scarred and diseased with no one to look after.
What I want to see is if that some double fed officers dont get away with the money. I can immediateky imagine that Asrani scene getting realized in my mind.
Anyway, it is good and definitely there will be a lot of improvement.
The so called ’stray’ dogs in the higher altitudes are indeed amazing! En route to Sri Kedarnath, one sees dogs that are admirably good looking!
And lol…”sterilization of our own speices” reminds me of a deceased political leader and his implementation (with much uproar) of such a scheme!
It’s always a hilarious read when you have both Eastern and Western perspectives on the same issues.
Understandably people in West do care about dogs, but live in India for 20 years and you will a different take on the whole issue.
There are no universal answers. I’m just laughing.
Animal Birth Control is a good program to help in solving the stray dog matter. However, one has to remember that it is not the full answer. Irresponsible pet dog owners who leave the unwanted puppies on the roads are a constant source and supply of stray dogs. Unorganized garbage disposal provides feed and maintenance for the dogs.
And, the ABC program has to be run effectively to achieve long term results. And it has to enjoy the public support, both moral and financial.
Dr. Ilona Otter, DVM
veterinary consultant
India Project for Animals and Nature (IPAN)
http://www.indiapan.org
Maybe we need to parachute into India our animal rights nuts who so push for no-kill. The strays with rabies are a clear and present danger to people. An opportunity for a “dog nazi” presents itself for any mayor to launch a cull to get votes from angry voters tired of losing friends and relatives to rabies. I bet the campaign by any opponent would get real ugly.
I’m real glad to live in an area virtually free of strays. (obviously not India) The ultimate solution is to have dogs on the menu, like certain Asian areas. Is it illegal to EXPORT healthy strays? If not, North Korea would be a great destination!
do not sterlize them, but catch em all,take em to the borders , and force them into china (red bastard),and pakistan(green bastard). he he.then both them will shout we let our dogs (dressed as terrorists)in india now india is letting its terrorists in our land, Allah, Long live Stalin.