The pleasant weather last evening, which our land is famous for, compelled even a slothful person like me to take a stroll. But within few minutes my leisure walk quickened to a brisk pace and soon I had to run home. Reason: Stray dogs.
 Two rabies deaths in 2010. 3966 bites in 2009. No dog poisoning. Failed sterilization. The City has  literally been left to dogs.
 The street dog population is growing in geometrical progression everywhere in the City but the concerned agencies are engaged in a meaningless argument. In our locality, there are innumerable stray dogs and we hear of a dog bite case almost everyday.
 The dog menace is literally barking at us. The number of stray dogs is increasing like anything. Stray dogs have created a scare everywhere. Medical experts say the dog population in Srinagar is alarming. Officials estimate that 100,000 stray dogs roam the City streets.
 Everyone in Srinagar is quite frustrated by the large number of stray dogs on the city’s streets, with thousands of dog bite cases recorded by the main SMHS hospital. The number of dog bite cases reported at SMHS in 2008 stood at 3866, for 2007 it was 3185. But these numbers are not absolute as many patients visit the local hospitals in their districts or private clinics for treatment.
 They also pose a lot threat to road commuters, especially to cyclists and those on other two wheelers like scooters, traveling at dusk. They chase these travelers, in most cases, cross frenziedly across the streets. The result is obvious, the travelers hurt and left to bleed on the roadside and in some cruel cases, attacked by these ruthless packs.
 With their bites, men are at the risk of contracting Rabies. Rabies is transmitted to humans with the bite of a rabid dog. Their saliva carries the virus, which enters the human body through the wounds. This virus affects our Central Nervous System, causing the inflammation of the brain which eventually causes death due to respiratory insufficiency.
 There is a desperate need to take some measures for the prevention of dog biting. I suggest the following remedies:
 1. Mutton shops in the residential localities be closed immediately and alternative secured places should be allotted to them.
 2. We need to sterilize and vaccinate stray dogs to counter-check their increasing number and to prevent the spread of rabies.
 3. In municipal heath centers, there is shortage of rabies vaccine. We need to have adequate supply of the vaccine till the menace is erdicated.
 The stray dog menace is in fact a grave problem in Srinagar and the authorities should act immediately to tackle this issue seriously and effectively.
Sameer Rashid Bhat
(The ideas expressed are author’s own)

Lastupdate on : Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST