A Study on the Severe Issue of Street Dogs in Kerala

Sneha Mol S

B.Ed Physical Science

Abstract

Street dogs known in scientific literature as free ranging dogs are unconfined dogs that
live in our cities. Street dogs may be stray dogs, pets which have strayed from or are allowed
freedom by their owners, or may be animals that never be owned. A survey was conducted to
examine the issues caused by street dogs and the results reveal that about 80% of the people in
the survey faced the problem of dog menace in their locality. But the sorrowing fact is that about
21% of the samples were direct victims of the stray dog attacks. The people of Kerala suggest
that the government should allocate proper shelter and domestic care for these stray dogs.

Introduction

Kerala is an animal friendly and pet loving state. The relationship between street dogs
and the human population in our cities is mostly harmonious but the rabies a major concern.
Nowadays these dogs are a common sight across the street, around the corner , near the garbage
dump, wherever people live dependent on little food tidbits and leftovers.

Street dogs are a main vector of the deadly diseases, which make them unwanted
members of Kerala society , leading to in humane means of dogs control in most part of Kerala.
Mans best friend is a prime menace on Kerala street, with rising instances of attack by stray
dogs and rabies being reported in the state . Over the past month , more than 300 cases of dogs
bites have been registered in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram alone ; official records state
that over 40,000 people have been bitten by the strays in last eight months.

Need and significance

Millions of stray dogs live on the streets of India. India's street dog population is closely
associated with municipal sanitation practices or neglect thereof. Because these homeless dogs
often survive by scavenging rubbish, exposed garbage means more healthy dogs and more
puppies. Ironically, this actually makes the dogs a boon to public sanitation. The opening
garbage dumps, or the overflowing garbage on roadsides is overrun by stray dogs, who feed and
breed around it. By widespread public outrage, the state administration found quick fix solution
to control the fast exalting crisis by large scale culling of aggressive stray dogs in the state.
Against to the in human decision to exteroninate wandering street dogs, animal activists joined to
convince the government to reverse the stand. While public opinion in kerala remains , sharply
divided with those bitten by dogs saying for blood and animal activists relaying in alarm. An
objective analysis or survey would help understand the situation better.

Statement of the problem

A Study on the severe issue of street dogs in Kerala

Objectives

The present study was designed to realize the following objective:

To explain the distribution of stray dogs

To examine the issues caused by the street dogs
To analyze issue the how to reduce the number of stray dogs and the placement of stray
dogs.

Methodology

A Survey was conducted on the severe issue of street dogs in Kerala on the month of
September 2015 for about 50 samples using questionnaire. The survey was mainly conducted in
different parts of Kottayam, Idukki, Kannur districts among our neighbors and friend.

Analysis and Interpretation

About 82 % of the people in the survey sample was faced by he problem of dog menace
in their locality. But the sorrowing fact is that about 21% of the sample were direct victims of the
stray dog attacks.

The domestic animals of the 50% of the people in the sample were attacked severely by
the stray dogs. 52% of the people in the sample were of the opinion that the provocation human
behavior was the major cause of street dog attacks and the other 48% of the people strongly
disagree with the statement .
 64% of the people said that the government had taken instead measures in their locality.
But 36% of the people were not satisfied with the instead measures taken.

Eventhough 69% of the people disagree with the mass killing of stray dogs in the name of
street dogs attack , 31% of the people were in a strong decision of killing them.

For 60% of the people didnt get any awareness programme to tackle the problem . 40%
of the people in the sample are against the opinion of animal right activists.

27% of the people strongly support the contraception and fertility control methods.
Eventhough 73% of the people disagree with the methods of controlling fertility, many of them
are doubtful about the practicability of the method.

89% of the people had taken antirabies vaccination after the attack of stray dogs. But
11% of the people were in opinion that the vaccination is required only when the attacked dogs is
rabies affected.

81% of people strongly oppose the arrest of the people who kills the dogs. They were in
the opinion that there is no other way rather than killing out the time of attack.

29% of the people had noticed many of the people who threw their dogs or puppies to
the streets. They strongly paint outs this to be a major cause of the increase in the number of
street dogs.

60% of the people in the sample says that lower state of the society is more affected by
this problem . 61% of the people in the sample were in the need of reformed animal protection
laws.

75% of the people where in a strong belief that the heaps of waste in the open space is
major cause for the healthy survival of the street dogs.80% of the people were against media
with the way of presentation of this social issue. They think that the media was making a great
fuss with this sound issue . This was the main reason for the fear of dog in the minds of common
man.63% of the people set apart time for participating in canine welfare programmes. But the
37% didnt found time to participate in such programmes.
 82% of the people didnt took timely vaccination for their pet dogs. Only 29% were
aware about the timely vaccination of the pets.

60% of the people were in the opinion that the protest in the name of stray dogs is right
40% of the people consider the arising allegation in the name of stray dogs as baseless and of no
use.

Conclusion

The people of Kerala are not insisting to kill them.They suggest that the government
should allocate proper shelter and domestic care .These stray dogs, thus there will be reduction in
the free ranging of stray dogs.

References

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/letters/Kerala%E2%80%99s-stray-dog-
problem/article14594790.ece

http://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news