Dogs are a menace on the campus. Every one has a tale of how they were chased by the dogs, or bitten by the dogs, or how their children were harassed, or how they make a mess every where. There is Sooby who takes pleasure on chasing people if they walk past him talking on their mobiles. Then there are bunch in the Transit House who dirty the corridors. The cleaning lady complains bitterly about them but we are unable to do anything. The trash bags cannot be kept outside so that it can be picked up because the dogs rifle through them, splattering the garbage generously on the corridors.
The campus is divided into two groups. One group argues vociferously that stray dogs will come into the campus whatever we do. The other group wants to get rid of them.
As usual I am ambivalent about them. At one level is that they are a menace. At the other level is humane consideration.
The group that is for the dogs has proposed that the easiest thing to do is to get the dogs sterilized. The other groups complains bitterly that they have not see any sign of it and the dogs just multiply.
So on my usual walk tonight I was pleasantly surprised. Near the Paschimabad cutting three dogs were barking. A van with Animal Hospital written on it was parked near the crossing. I crossed over and asked the security guard:
"What is happening?"
"They are returning the dogs."
"What?
"They had taken the dogs, no, ma'am. They are being returned after nasbandi."
So there we go.
2 comments:
Why is sterilization more "humane"? Did the dogs say so? From what I remember, this is the idea of Maneka Gandhi, an "animal rights" activist of the most militant and idiotic sort. I wonder if her concern for animals extends to flies and mosquitoes also. Are we allowed or not allowed to swat flies and mosquitoes? How about the smallpox virus? Should it not be allowed to spread back among us humans, to continue wreaking its havoc?
Yes, we have an obligation to be kind to animals, but the safety of humans is important also. In the case of dogs, the problem is not only that they can be aggressive and harm children but they also carry rabies which is deadly to humans and against which they need to be inoculated. We have to balance the humane considerations (letting the animals live) against the costs to us humans (the dangers to children and disease). Euthanasia, even in the case of animals should never be exercised lightly but sometimes we just have to do it. All societies including Western ones do it. Remember the RSPCA started in the UK.
A last word: Is allowing the animals to live and not feeding them or otherwise taking care of them more humane than euthanasia? The next time I see a dog or a cat scavenging in rubbish dumps, I'll remember to give thanks to the "humaneness" of our society. But, then, we in India force some human beings to live in the same manner. Says a lot about our society.
Oh the humane thing I should explain. It all stems from the way they kill stray dogs. And no I am not extremely fond of strayness. My argument to those who want stray dogs to roam about the campus has been that why don't you then take care of them properly. Whatever we might say about Alpana, she used to care for the cats. She got them shots, took care of their illness, and fed them. I still remember how bitterly she cried the day one of her cats was killed.
On the other hand the dogs are a menace because one never knows when they would bite. And yes, it is Menaka Gandhi at her idiotic best. But there are others on the campus who campaign for the same. In fact their argument is that if it is not these dogs, then other stray dogs will move in and therefore you can never get rid of stray dogs. Whatever!
So the only sop is that at least let them not breed. And no the dogs did not give permission and they are not happy but what do we do with the militants.
Oh, some days back some North East students apparently killed a dog, presumably to eat it. Big deal. That is normal diet for them. But the hostel in question was flooded with petition and even an RTI. There are enough idiots around the campus. The same sort who presumably argue for Rs 20/semester hostel fees.
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