We are not dogs’ best friends anymore.
The Kerala mass killing of dogs has been making headlines in India for the past few days after inhumane actions against dogs were recorded and posted on social media.
There has been a spike in the stray dog population all over the country, leading to increased incidents of dog bites. But 21 deaths due to rabies have induced fear in the people of Kerala, and they have taken matters into their own hands to solve the stray-dog menace using violence.
But this is not the first time Kerala is facing the stray dog menace. There was a similar crisis a few years ago and the government handled it without any mass killing of dogs.
It started with a dog that allegedly attacked people in a neighbourhood in the Kottayam district being beaten to death and strung up to a pole. Cases of stray dogs dying due to poisoning are coming up in other districts. People have taken the war-footing approach to the extent of carrying airguns and rifles in the name of “protection” for themselves and their families, saying that even a friendly stray will not deter them from shooting. Man’s best friend much?
But the root cause of this human-dog conflict is that the state of Kerala did not adopt rabies vaccination drives for strays, nor did it implement Animal Birth Control (ABC) measures to curb the population since 2001. And the state is obliged to look after its citizens while ensuring a safer means to deal with such issues. It is 2022, and with a 100% literacy rate, people have started to behave worse than goons.
States like Maharashtra have the largest stray population, and though dog-bite incidents occur daily, it has been a rare occurrence for rabies-related deaths. Through thorough routine check-up drives, registering and collaring, and NGOs working towards helping strays, people have ensured that these animals do not attack or act up in any circumstances. Living in Mumbai, I cross many stray dogs daily and do not feel afraid of them most of the time. I believe that animals do understand and respond to nurture and care. Does the behaviour of dogs in Kerala reflect the behaviour of people and their treatment of them? It is very likely to be the case.
The Mayor of Kozhikode, Beena Philip, initially opposed the mass killing of strays but later changed her stance, saying that people have every right to defend themselves from dog attacks.
But is mass killing a universal cure? The rest of the country and animal activists do not believe so. What was Kerala doing when Animal Birth Control measures were discussed and were supposed to be put into practice two decades ago? And would immediate rabies vaccination drives help both dogs and humans right away? What is the point of boasting about 100% literacy when such inhuman actions are recorded and spread on social media?
I know people will come at me and say, “But what if you are attacked by a dog? Won’t you defend yourself? “ Of course, I will, but will I kill it with my bare hands? Nope.
There are methods to control the stray dog menace — humane and ethical ones. Killing innocent stray dogs is not the answer.
And those of you who compare sexually abused women, or victims of violence, to dog bite victims, please get your priorities straight.
Where were you when you had to speak up for the former victims who suffered and died at the hands of injustice?
