The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Sterilisation, vaccination are solutions to the stray dog menace in Bangalore

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 17, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Sterilisation, vaccination are solutions to the stray dog menace in Bangalore

Do not kill stray dogs but protect people too, say our readers

Put to sleep

The danger of rabies outbreaks is inevitable when uncontrolled packs of stray dogs are allowed to move about freely.

One rabid dog can infect several others, posing a serious risk to human beings too.

While it is good that the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) has abandoned its older method of catching strays and electrocuting them, it would be better for dogs that are too old or sick to be put to sleep.

S. Mahesh

Banaswadi

Use humane methods

Only humane methods should be used by government agencies while seeking to reduce the number of street dogs. Animal birth control measures can work only to a limited extent. Citizens can help by not dumping leftover food wherever they please, as street dogs have a natural attraction to garbage.

G. Madhusudan

Lingarajapuram

Stray cattle

Why talk only about stray dogs? There are large numbers of abandoned jutka horses and cattle too, which perhaps have owners but not shelters, that roam about our streets at will. Some even turn violent and attack people.

Organisations like Society for Prevention Of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) should be helped to build more shelters for such abandoned animals.

They should not be left free to wander the streets.

Neha Mendes

Benson Town

Too many

Stray cattle wandering through the streets are a common sight in most Indian cities. But Bangalore perhaps holds the record for the most number of street dogs, which are often found in packs near garbage bins and slaughterhouses.

While vaccination and animal birth control measures may work, are they sufficient to tackle the large number of street dogs?

Sunaina Iyer

Jayanagar

NEXT WEEK: Some educationists feel that computer/video games and even cartoon channels on television, ostensibly meant for children, have too much violence being shown. Child psychologists, however, are divided in their opinion, as are many parents. Readers are invited to send their opinion to The Hindu, 19 & 21, Bhagwan Mahaveer Road, Bangalore - 560001, or email bglreflections

@thehindu.co.in.

Banaswadi

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