Danger of stray dogs is increasing every day around us. As the strays population in increasing, now they are grouped and see vulnerable humans as easy prey. Packs of dogs have become dangerous and difficult to control. Protected by Dog lovers and animal right laws, the danger to normal people of being hunted even around their homes is real. Human right of being in a safe environment is being ignored. Is it not hypocritical that you care for a violent stray who is a threat to the society? Problem is not about loving and feeding dogs, but simultaneous apathy towards safety of humans. Such dog lovers most of the time, totally ignore the fact that these dogs are a threat to children and older people. An immediate sense of hatred towards such dog lovers is a consequence and a natural thought.

Just one of uncountable examples. An 80-year-old woman was attacked by stray dogs while she was going to a temple in Ludhiana city on Tuesday. She was admitted to DMC Hospital for treatment. Residents claimed that a group of 15-20 stray dogs has created terror in the area. The pack of dogs often attacks people including children. The said despite their repeated complaints to the authorities they have not got any kind of relief from this problem.

It is not uncommon dogs chasing children and older people. In a recent incident and a common one , the loud barking sounds were intermixed with cries of a child, who was running and screaming for his life. Two stray dogs were near him, trying to hunt him as a prey. As they got nearer to him, I somehow managed to get some stick from a plant and managed to save the child and shoo away the dogs. The nine year old child just clung to me, almost pale, dizzy and his eyes closed with fear. His football was in his lap, which he was trying to use as shield. A shield which society, government, courts and so called “dog-lovers” failed to provide. This child must be the life for his parents and could have been in a great trouble that day because of apathy of few “Animal Lovers”. For whom animal love is like a hobby to be projected for hollow public applause. I looked around, a gentleman was comfortably sitting with his small dog and reading newspaper. He did not even bother to look at what was happening. He was the person, who used to feed these stray dogs and claimed himself to be a “Dog lover”. He was totally unperturbed by the fact that a child was about to lose his life because of these wolf like dogs roaming freely. Similar apathy has been displayed by government and courts with a result that thousand suffer from dog bite every day.

Apart from the injury part, Rabies is a disease spread by dog bite, which is not treatable. Getting anti-Rabies serum becomes another Herculean task.

Courts have also upheld animal rights. That is right but they did not formulate policies to ensure safety of humans from these violent strays.

Government has not made out any policy to safeguard public from such attacks nor have courts come up with any solid guidelines, which can save public, children, women and older people from such bites.

Animal lovers while pretending of “dog love” have formed NGOs and have donations and accumulate money. But have failed to create shelters for stray dogs. Neither have any steps been taken to save people from dog bites. So consequently, people especially vulnerable are children and older people who are mauled and eaten alive by stray dogs. What responsibility and accountability these animal lovers and NGO bear towards such incidents? Why people who collect money in name of animals do not take care and form shelters for these strays? every single death from such preventable cause raise a question on this issue.

Apathy of these so called dog lovers towards humans is appalling.

Besides dog bite and injuries, animal and dog poop is an health hazard. Following are the diseases which occur in community because of animal poop.

Problem of animal poop with dust : It is all around us. It is actually even a bigger health problem than open defecation by humans. Humans defecate in country side and in open fields. But stray animals and dogs are everywhere. Even owner of pet dogs make them defecate outside their own houses and on the roads and wherever their dogs chooses. This poop dried and mixed with dust, acts a source of infection to the community.