Hyderabad: Complaining about the rising number of stray dogs in your locality? Look at your habits and those of your neighbours, too. For the numbers of stray dogs is directly proportional to the garbage available to them. Strays are scavengers and garbage provides them with ample source of food.
That’s the reason stray dogs are most commonly found around eateries, garbage dumps, meat shops, fish shops and landfills. They are also rampant in localities where garbage isn’t disposed of properly.
What can you do to get rid of the stray menace? Ensure that no one uses empty spaces and plots to throw their garbage. This will ensure that strays don’t migrate and proliferate in that area. Stray dogs also gather when people feed dogs in the neighborhood every day, not only due to their love for animals but also out of religious beliefs.
Controlling the canine population is also important. A bitch can give birth to 10-12 puppies at least twice a year; these puppies will become adults in eight months and will give birth to more puppies. That’s why animal birth control (ABC) and anti-rabies vaccinations (ARV) are very important as sterilised and vaccinated dogs will not allow feral dogs to enter your street. Amala Akkineni, chairperson, Blue Cross of Hyderabad, said, “If these stray dogs are caught, sterilised, vaccinated and released back into their habitat, their populations can be reduced in 5-8 years. All dogs must be sterilised and vaccinated against rabies. Sterilisation keeps the dog population in check.”
