There is an either-or narrative on how to deal with stray dogs. The people of Dehradun, who otherwise claim to be a sophisticated lot, seem to have tapped into this narrative. It is strange that for a people who claim to be compassionate because they belong to a civilisation that considers all living creatures to have souls and, also, speak as inheritors of the pet-loving tradition of erstwhile British masters, should be so confused in their attitude towards dogs.
Unfortunately, it is a fact that neither of these two traditions actually informs the present. For the well-off, dogs are a status symbol, just like their latest Mercedes or Audi. As with their cars, however, many lack the culture to deal with their dogs. Large dogs are kept tied up in urban homes in most unsuitable, even cruel ways. They only get to stretch their legs twice a day and their paid handlers care little for them, even resent them, which shows in their treatment. It takes little for such owners to cast off a dog if s/he begins to exhibit behavioural problems or becomes an inconvenience. If nobody takes them off their hands, the animals can even be abandoned to live on the streets.
The poor care much better for their dogs as companions, but do not understand the nature of stray dogs. As they are the ones most often harassed by such animals while walking or cycling to work, they seek solutions to the problem. Unfortunately, nobody has the training or the resources to deal with it. The designated agencies are often pressured by either armchair animal activists, or downright sadists, to take extreme measures. One opposes culling altogether, while the others would like to see every dog in the street wiped out.
The media, too, often exaggerates the either-or contradiction. Perhaps, the situation would be better understood if people realised the positive role street dogs play in everyday life. They are the best chowkidars, who remain ever alert. If their host community treats them well and understands their behaviour, they can communicate at any time of day or night the presence and activities of outsiders. Cantonments and camps of security forces would never fall prey to surprise attacks by terrorists and such like if there were enough dogs in the area. Even patrol parties would not be ambushed if they had properly trained dogs that wander around when they camp or make halts.
Dogs only turn vicious if they are ill-treated, or grow too large in number, creating territorial issues. The dogs that lead such wolf-pack behaviour should be removed, retaining the more friendly but alert ones. Every dog should have a favourite ‘patron’ resident of the neighbourhood to feel loved. There would then be no need for panicked or angry reactions to having dogs in the urban environment, and mohallas and colonies would be much safer.
