Municipality, dog feeders, residents need to work together to control stray dog aggression: Experts

Animal rights activists and experts believe that stray dog aggression can be controlled if the municipality, dog feeders, and residents work together.

By Abhishek Anand: After stray dogs allegedly mauled two kids to death in the national capital, the residents and dog lover community are again on loggerheads. While many residents are demanding complete removal of stray dogs from the streets, the animal lovers say it can’t be done as the onus of population control lies in the hands of the municipal corporation. The animal rights activists, however, say that any stray that is showing signs of aggression, shall be removed immediately from the locality.

“Our municipal corporations are failing in execution of the Supreme Court’s orders. They are the ones who are responsible for spaying of dogs and controlling their population. Such incidents are rising due to incessant rise in stray dog population. If the number of strays remains limited in a locality, dogs will not bite humans, forget about mauling kids,” said Kaveri Rana Bhardwaj, founder of Sophie Memorial Trust and renowned animal rights activist.

There are people who love stray dogs and feed them, but due to such incidents, they are often targeted by some residents. Experts, however, say that feeding a dog is not a bad thing but one shall take onus of helping in spaying of dogs.

“There have been many incidents where some dog feeders have not allowed removal of such dogs from the locality who have shown early signs of aggression. This is not good for the society. As a dog lover one cannot ignore early signs of aggression that leads to bigger incidents. Such dogs shall be immediately removed from the locality and shall be put under observation till their behaviour is not changed,” said Kaveri.