[Answered] Highlight the challenges posed by the stray dog crisis in India. Also, suggest some measures to tackle this crisis.

Stray dogs are protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Rules enacted under Section 38 of the Act, particularly the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001. That makes it illegal for an individual, RWA, or estate management to remove or relocate dogs. Only 15% of all stray dogs vaccinated. India’s stray population is huge, adoption is terribly slow and limited as many people only want foreign breed dogs.

Challenges posed by the stray dog crisis:

• At almost 21,000, India also accounts for more than a third of all rabies-related deaths.
• From the last five years, more than 300 people — mostly children from poor and rural families — have been killed by dogs.
• A 2017 study showed that homeless dogs in rural areas can also be devastating for wildlife. Over 80 species, of which more than 30 are on the endangered list, were targeted by dogs in wilderness areas.
• Dogs that are out by themselves could cause accidents when it runs on the road, which may also lead to injuries to them and other people.
• Stray dogs enjoy opening garbage bags and they can lead to the garbage and refuse being scattered all around the environment and street. Stray dogs will scavenge for food and can break open garbage cans and disturb gardens.

Measures to tackle this crisis:

• Recommendation of court: People who feed stray dogs could be made responsible for vaccinating them and bearing costs if somebody is attacked by the animal.
• Every Resident Welfare Association (RWA)should form “Guard and Dog partnerships” in consultation with the Police Dog Squad. So that dogs can be trained and yet be friendly to residents of a colony.
• The municipal corporation, the resident welfare association, and local dog groups should vaccinate and sterilize the animals.
• Sick animals, aggressive animals, would have to beeuthanized. A segment of the population can be
• The only long-term solution is to implement strict pet ownership laws, prohibit people from carelessly feeding dogs everywhere, and set up facilities to house dogs.
• There is a desperate need for more staff and funds. Besides sterilisation, efforts must also be focused on adoption. And we must find some compassion to help resolve this crisis humanely.

As long as dogs are homeless on the streets, the idea of a rabies-free India, with harmonious co-existence between people and dogs, will be a utopian dream. Keeping dogs homeless is bad for dogs, bad for people, and bad for wildlife.