Diwali Danger for Street Dogs

Every single day there is at least one report in an Indian newspaper about the “menace” of stray dogs. Then occasionally there is also a report about something different which sheds light on where this “menace” really comes from.

Buried in an article in The Times of India (here) about looking after your pets during the upcoming Diwali festival where many, many fireworks and firecrackers will be set-off is a section about also caring for stray dogs, which includes the statement:

“The atrocities kids and young boys subject them to for their own 'fun' leaves them burned, grievously injured and sometimes limbless.”

It is made clear that firecrackers will be regularly thrown at street dogs and sometimes even tied to their tails.

I do not believe that this callous attitude towards street dogs is restricted to the Diwali festival or to young boys, although the maiming may well be at its worst at this time of year.

Considering such antagonistic treatment it is no surprise that the street dogs will be wary of people and given the living situation with little chance to avoid proximity to people the dogs will feel the need to defend themselves in the only way they can.

My view is that the main cause of the dog menace originates from the treatment dogs receive from people. When combined with poor waste management supporting high numbers of dogs this creates the unpleasantly threatening atmosphere many Indian cities are apparently currently facing with their canine inhabitants.

Being more careful with waste disposal and being more humane towards street dogs is within the scope of all residents without the need to shout at the authorities to do something.

Learn more about the lives and issue of unowned dogs in my e-book ”A Stray View” available from Bangkok Books (readable as .pdf on any computer)