SOME days back, when I was returning home from the day’s work, I was chased by a pack of fierce dogs in the Shaher-e-Khaas area of the old City. I had to sprint very hard for about a kilometre till the dogs finally gave up.
 They were running after a ‘trespasser’ in their territory but I was running for life. I could manage to escape from the jaws of the canines but what about the little children and the senior citizens of our City?
 According to estimates, as reported by Greater Kashmir from time to time, there has been an increase of 80% in dog bite cases in Srinagar in just one year, from 4230 cases in 2010 to 7257 in 2011. In just a single day, 51 people have suffered the horrific dog bites in Srinagar and 13 of them in Lal Chowk alone.
 Srinagar has become a dog’s hub. Even after so much of dog attacks, the  government is acting mere spectator. Everyday, we have to hear “dog biting” news.
 Dogs don’t have to be killed at any cost, even if it costs the life of people or the citizens. Maybe, I was mistaken in calling the people the citizens. In Srinagar, the dogs have taken the rights of citizens as they enjoy protection to their lives. There are no “human rights” that can be practiced but yes, there are “dog rights”. Killing of humans is no sin if they are a hindrance to peace but killing of dogs is a heinous crime even if they bite peace loving innocents. The mauling of a doctor by the canines some days back was the limit of the dog terror. Are Kashmiris doomed to stay indoors throughout their life just because of dogs? Are our children destined to stick inside their homes while they ought to enjoy their childhood in some park or with their friends? Humans in Kashmir are not the Ashraf-Ul-Makhluqaat (Superior of all creations) but as if dogs have snatched that title.
 The maximum the government could do to overcome the dog domination was to construct the dog pounds which cost millions. And, the jobless youth would now have to take care of dogs or the most appropriate word would be as rightly said by Justice (Retd) Bashir Ahemd Kirmani who coined term: Rehbar-e-Kutta. With the announcement of this job, it has been seemingly made clear that dogs have more rights in Srinagar.
 We have to get serious in this matter because this problem has really become the top listed and most serious problem for Srinagar. People are not given free immunization but the government has spent so much for dogs. We must not forget that dogs multiply six times faster than humans. Take a step dear friends or it won’t be too long when all the people of Srinagar will become lame or blind or God forbid extinct. Let Mohalla Committees and Masjid Committees wake up to tackle the menace because for no w we shouldn’t bank on government which doesn’t even allow protests against dogs menace!
By
Sheikh Jalees Hyder, Burn Hall School
Email: jaleeshyder@gmail.com
(Ideas expressed are author's own)

Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 21 May 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 22 May 2012 00:00:00 IST