By all counts the Dog menace has come to haunt us arguably in a much bigger way than before. Yet we are caught on the wrong foot only debating the strategies that need to be followed with seemingly little or no action at all and consequently the fallouts are there to be seen.
 In recent times undoubtedly the canines have increased their numbers manifold and it won’t be wrong to refer it as ‘canine explosion’. And as reported people are increasingly at the receiving end facing the brunt, even deaths, many in number having been reported.
 But to determine the causes actually no rocket science is required.
 Let us delve into the past and try to find out why our ancestors at least didn’t get caught up in the mess as we are finding ourselves in. To begin we may learn that population numbers were much lesser and the Srinagar city especially had not expanded as such and same was the story of the majority of towns as well. As people were lesser in numbers so were the ‘natural scavengers’. Hence balance was maintained and with humans rested the ‘balance of power’ for sure.
 But as the human numbers swelled with it expanded the city exteriors and human habitation outspread enormously. Steadily with increased income levels quality of life changed and what followed was more increased food consumption which later on transformed into lavish consumption and consequent wastage of scarce food resources. Here we can focus on the increased expenditures incurred on the marriage ceremonies. This is the sector were every ‘control’ is thrown to the winds not to talk of the previously imposed “guest control order” by the last coalition govt. This order was virtually thrown to the ‘dogs’.
 We literally beg to the outside states for ‘our share’ of their resources and have lost our way of life certainly the way to produce goods as inertia has crept in and we have turned into a huge mass of unwieldy consumers who rely on outside resources to keep themselves afloat. For a change we just manage intake of handful of so called fresh air as residents of this place, rest we live a life of parasites. 
 And coming back to the lavish feasts prepared on our pompous marriage ceremonies let us ourselves assess how much food do we waste leaving aside other pomp and show.
 If we are responsible for food wastages on such a large scale and also on a daily basis as our consumption has increased how can we be surprised on the exploding canine numbers everywhere. Remember we gulp down mutton now exceeding four Arab rupees a year notwithstanding the diseases associated with such regular food intakes adding to our sedentary life styles.
 Hence before making any hue and cry against the emergent dog menace we need to find the answers ourselves at our level than to run after the lives of these poor creatures whom nature has predestined to clean our muck and filth. Also veterinarians long ago have concluded that non-vegetarian leftovers especially from the wazwan feasts remains the main reason behind the increasing numbers of canines as it shoots up their sexual urge.
 In this backdrop we need to ponder a little and even if we take just the baby steps towards a better social life by improving our environs and our community life, much can be achieved on all fronts for sure.
 Thereby can we hold government responsible only for the menace for we at our own level need to see reason. Recently a locality gave an ultimatum to the government  to act fast to curb the  dog menace or shall they themselves resort to elimination of these poor creatures. By an interim order a few Dog Ponds are being established to ‘rescue’ the city of the threat. But will canines stop biting after sterilization remains to be seen.
  What is much clearer is that the procedure adopted is itself an up hill task to accomplish and it won’t be able to quick-fix the menace.
 Here experts doubt the ability of the concerned departments to funds such a mammoth rehabilitation project for dogs were you need not only to create infrastructure in the first stage but to deploy the required men and material, catch the animals, house them in ponds, sexually segregate them and most importantly provide them food two times a day which may involve a lot of resources to begin with.
 Predictably we may end up diverting funds for this ‘Dog Project’ from even some of the flagship programmes of the Union Government who knows may be from MGNREGS as well.
 Hence seemingly the menace is here to stay and surely for a longer time and if we humans don’t put a check on ourselves first the scenario shall more or less remain the same. And we simply can not wish them away.
 Therefore we need to take care of ourselves, our activities and our surroundings and in consequence the rising numbers of the canines shall surely show a decline.
 But certainly it needs a social awakening….!!

(The author is Gold Medalist in Mass Communication & Journalism and can be reached at arshaddijoo@yahoo.com)

Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 23 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 24 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST