Some Stray Stats on Stray Dogs

With impressive accuracy, the city of Srinagar in northern India is reported to have 91,110 stray dogs. This must either be a case of misuse of statistical sampling or a deliberate attempt to give the impression of having some control over the situation.

Either way it makes me wonder if the Government Minister who quoted this figure actually understands what a stray dog is. Definitions do vary but pet dogs on the loose are a very important part of the stray dog problem everywhere due to their typically more aggressive behaviour towards people, but usually they only spend part of their time wandering beyond the control of their owner. These temporary strays are almost impossible to count accurately. Anyone who understands this would say something like, “Srinagar has around 90,000 stray dogs”.

On the other hand, if his definition of “stray dog” does not include pets on the loose then he has no chance of solving the problem.