BY- MADHU AGRAWAL in NEW DELHI
India is certainly a strange country where totally non-harming cows are now-a-days not allowed in urban area and streets of Delhi, the capital city of India. But harming stray dogs creating nuisance of unhygienic shit every where and usual cases of dog-bites are not removed from streets in name of animal-rights. Even dog-squads of the three Municipal Corporations of Delhi catch only such stray dogs which are not sterilised to prevent further breeding, but leave these dogs to same streets after sterilising and an ear-cut as sign of those getting sterilised. If dog-lovers are so sensitive to animal-rights of nuisance of harmful stray dogs, then they can arrange funding for opening dog-shelters to house harmful stray dogs. Even civic bodies if hesitating to remove stray dogs from streets, can also such dog-shelters rather than people facing highly unhygienic conditions and fear of dog-bites. But in any case, civic bodies must remove all stray dogs, sterilised or non-sterilised from streets in cities.
There must be strict norms for pet dogs. Every pet dog must be compulsorily registered with civic bodies with registration-tag mandatory to be hanged in dog-necks. It should also be compulsory to tie shit bags to ensure that dog-shit may not be spread on streets in interest of health-safety of people. Making pet dogs shit in public-places should be punishable offence with heavy fine and simple one-month prison. It is irony that affording people having adequate space for having cows and buffaloes, prefer having dogs rather than having cows. Love and affection towards pet dogs at times is of greater significance rather than family-elders for dog-lovers of elite society. Having norms for pet dogs and sending all stray dogs in dog-shelters will be a great step towards ambitious Clean-India movement of Prime Minister.
Kucha Lattushah (Dariba) in walled city of Delhi has become a paradise for street-dogs with many dogs from other streets also coming to enjoy company of well-fed stray dogs there by a dog-lover. Street is always dirty-most with dog-shit everywhere making life of residents risky with fear of spread of diseases. There have been cases of dog-bites in the street. Dog-squad when contacted said that only non-sterilised dogs can be caught but to be left back after sterilisation.
Some residents in the street have also pet dogs but with absolutely no norms adopted in respect of pet dogs, while some others feed dogs out of their belief. Earlier when dog-squad came to catch stray dogs, dog-lovers assured that they would hang identity marks in necks of dogs they wish to be in streets. But nothing was done.
Dog-squad of North Delhi Municipal Corporation should ensure street totally free from stray dogs. Civic body should issue necessary directions for obtaining licence to have pet dogs with conditions signed from those getting such licences. Even door-to-door survey should be made to ensure that identity-marks are hanged in necks of dogs with shit-bags tied near their tails. Dog-levers owe duty towards health and safety of street-residents as well. In case civic body fails in its duty, there must be washing of complete street in every morning. It is also in tune with ambitious Clean-India movement by Prime Minister to ensure norms for pet dogs and removal of stray dogs to eliminate highly unhygienic conditions spread by stray dogs.
MADHU AGRAWAL is freelance writer and Guinness Record Holder for letters in newspapers