Street dog which we used to feed till he bit my dad
A lot of people are protesting online that no stray dogs in Sri Lanka should be killed. But some should. It is not healthy to have stray, mangy, bitey dogs running around a city, not healthy for anyone. Normal policy is you put them in pounds, make them possible for adoption and euthanize them if they’re not. Vaccinating or sterilizing them and sending them back out isn’t a good option.
This necessarily means that culling is a part of any sane policy to control the stray dog population. If people have a problem with that they should do like groups like Adopt A Dog In Sri Lanka (which incidentally opposes the policy) and put up money and time to care for stray dogs and give them homes. The best protest in this case is to adopt a dog.
For example, my friends picked up a stray in Medavachchiya who is adorable if bitey, but she was bloated, wormy and dying when we found her, hardly an ideal turn of affairs. If the population was controlled these animals wouldn’t be suffering so much in the first place.
Also, their suffering aside, stray dogs hospitalize like 2,000 people a day, and carry rabies. Like Jack Point has, uh, pointed out they also chase people, cars, motorbikes and cause accidents and disasters. Many stray dogs in Colombo are aggressive, territorial and dangerous.
Culling dogs is simply a part of a reasonable stray control policy. Not that I say a part, it has to go hand in hand with sterilization, pounds and rehoming of dogs. But in five to ten years we should aim for a Colombo without stray dogs on the street, like a civilized and safe city. That means taking the stray population down from the currently unmanageable 3 million and keeping it down. Culling is a necessary part of the policy.
If that really bothers you, you can start by adopting a dog, or like in my Achchi’s case, any and every random dog possible. I adopted a kitten which involves a fair amount of shit cleaning and being woken up with claw to the face but it’s quite rewarding as well. Allowing them to suffer and endanger people on the streets, however, is not compassion, it’s just benign neglect.
Really good post, Indi.
Also made a note on Facebook to say that the things that our social circles (or at least the ones active on Facebook) seem to get really angry about in Sri Lanka are really fascinating to me. Hard to get people to care about journalists being killed or Tamil civilians’ land being grabbed.
Spot on Electra, Spot on
My god…I agree with Electra. The world must surely end.
This is why adopting nor killing is going to be that easy. Real life is not as simple as the example, but hope you get my point.
If a town has junk food accessible to 100 dogs, the strongest 100 dogs are going to survive. They are going to breed, but weakest will not be able to find food and will get sick and die. Bottom line is that the upper limit of the population is decided by the [food] supply.
If 10 of those 100 “strong” surviving dogs are adopted, now there is “excess” food for 10 more dogs. So the puppies bred next are going to find food a little easier, and the 10 slots will soon be filled.
That’s probably the reason why spraying dogs work either. Because if the program miss a few dogs, they will breed and eventually fill the “vacancies” until the food supply take over.
As for killing dogs, it can be effective as long as the killing mechanisms can keep up with the breeding. I think the case with dogs is easier than with mosquitoes, because breeding cycle is of weeks and months, and not days, and dogs don’t breed in tens of thousands.
I think the best solution is to reduce the number of “vacancies” for stray dogs, i.e., to cut the food supply. This can be done by introducing stricter laws about how food related garbage is dumped. There is ample food for stray dogs around fish / meet and vegetable markets as well as many restaurants. If the local government bodies can supply large bins, make garbage disposal effective, and strictly enforce their use, there will be less food for stray dogs to feed on.
The nature’s way is to over-saturate a population and let the strongest survive, and stray dogs is not an exception. The only sustainable solution I see is to bring down the saturation point.
At Electra: Well, the government doesn’t actually announce publicly that it is going to kill civilians or journalists, right? Maybe it is much easier to protest when the minister actually says we are going to kill 3 million dogs or whatever. The other deaths and disappearances and the responsibility for them all revolve around assumption and circumstantial evidence. Besides, do you really think it is hard to get people to protest? Given the right amount of donations via NGO’s and foreign trips thrown in, people protest quite a lot.
So basically you want the animals to starve to death? Nice. Really humane.
It is how things happen in this world from time immemorial. Biological goal of all animals is to multiply the numbers of their species. But there are controls in the nature, and one of them is the limited food supply.
They say that there are three million stray dogs in Sri Lanka. Do you think this will become 30 million anytime sooner or later, without any killings or sterilization program? Do you think all the newborn stray puppies live long and healthy lives? Do you think the food supply is not a problem and they all find creative ways to find food (some do)? I don’t think so.
The “natural” control for the population of stray and wild animals is the limited food supply. Animals are always starving to death.
Please don’t get me wrong. I am very sensitive towards these matters, and it took me quite a while to get over that the world we live in is not a rosy place. All I am proposing is a status quo (except during the initial phase). And believe me, I don’t like any of the available options.
Of course I didn’t mention other “controls” like deceases, so the real situation is not as simple as the picture I painted.
I gotta carry one of those collapsible steel police batons with me on my morning run to avoid being bitten. If it was legal to carry a firearm, I’d do some culling of my own.
Well you might as well argue that Sri Lanka is overpopulated with humans (which it is) – so let the folks who can’t survive die of starvation/disease/poverty. Limit their food supply and limit their access to health services; that will bring about a “natural balance” and all will be fine and dandy.
What makes you think human life is of more worth than animal life? Just asking.
amazing how dogs bring out the best in any of us ;)
These dogs are the 99% unlike the household 1% you own, you cuddle with, feed “Scooby snacks” and care everyday. Cute ain’t it?
1. What homeless strays eat?
Junk. Not the junk we eat from KFC and Mac.
2. Where do they sleep?
On sidewalk, under an old truck, abandoned dirty building where cheap prostitutes do their occupation at midnight. Do you even care to let a stray sleep with your “posh” puppy?
3. How they die?
In hunger or cold, diseases, ran over by a million dollar car (may be yours), by getting older even without having a memorable grave unlike your pup.
These dogs are the 99% unlike the household 1% you own, you cuddle with, feed “Scooby snacks” and care everyday. Cute ain’t it?
1. What homeless strays eat?
Junk. Not the junk we eat from KFC and Mac.
2. Where do they sleep?
On sidewalk, under an old truck, abandoned dirty building where cheap prostitutes do their occupation at midnight. Do you even care to let a stray sleep with your “posh” puppy?
3. How they die?
In hunger or cold, diseases, ran over by a million dollar car (may be yours), being sold as mutton, by getting older even without having a memorable grave unlike your pup.
You are not following me. And please don’t misunderstand me as one of those who promote “human superiority”. On the contrary, I have many times raised the double standards when it comes to human rights vs animal rights. In particular, I don’t agree with Indi on this article, although I myself have been once bitten by a stray dog.
I think that 3 million figure at some balance point. It may change from time to time, but I think food supply is ALREADY the main “control” factor for stray animal population, especially for dogs and cats. Which means there is already hunger, malnutrition and eventual death. So shifting this “balancing point” is pretty much a status quo, except for the initial period. After the new balance point is reached (which is not a very pleasant thing, I agree), again things will be the same.
But I am sure you will agree to my main point. If there is enough food for 3 million stray dogs, adopting, killing (unless done at a very high rate), or sterilizing (again, if not done at a very fast rate) is not going to work. Because this will only open up “vacancies” to share the food supply, and a new generation of dogs will soon fill them, and the population will reach the balance point.
To sum up, the ministry’s killing project (may not start as per the latest reports), or adopting and sterilizing projects are only short term “solutions” (notice the quotes). IF – a very big IF – we need to reduce the stray dog population in a sustainable manner – again don’t forget the IF – limiting the food supply is the only way to do it.
Omr, you are ignoring Sri Lankan’s actual position on this matter, and instead presenting an exaggerated view of it. Sri Lankan is just stating how life on earth works. Food supply has always been a limiting factor of populations, regardless of species. And Sri Lankan is right when stating that if food disposal is not regulated and food supply for dogs is not restricted, then the population of dogs will reach 3 million even after culling or sterilisation.
Omr, you are ignoring Sri Lankan’s actual position on this matter, and instead presenting an exaggerated view of it. Sri Lankan is just stating how life on earth works. Food supply has always been a limiting factor of populations, regardless of species. And Sri Lankan is right when stating that if food disposal is not regulated and food supply for dogs is not restricted, then the population of dogs will reach 3 million even after culling or sterilisation.
As for your comment about restricting the human population, you are again making the same fallacious argument.
I was going to say Sri Lankan’s comment was one of the most intelligent that I had read on the subject in terms of a holistic view. Omr’s response I think confirms that the original comment was indeed intelligent when it comes to dealing with the stray dog population.
I think its worse here in England. You may not have dogs wandering the streets but you cant go to a park without a dog chasing your heels or attacking random children. Humans have a right to use parks not just dogs and their owners. Other peoples dogs/stray dogs are mostly a menace, period.
vast majority of the stray dogs are actually unwanted litter of domestic dogs. trying to cut off their food supply is meaningless, they’re pretty resourceful at finding food and they need very little to survive anyway. The trick is to stop people from throwing unwanted litter onto the streets and kill off the dogs that are left behind.
Omr has consistently proven his ability to make all other commentators look intelligent.
lol true..the exception perhaps being dodo…
Hell hath no fury like two women scorned (David Blacker + N).
Easier on the conscience to abandon a pup than kill it, that’s the problem.
The problem is with people not neutering their domestic animals.
Sha, Omr, you managed to spell “scorned”. Don’t you normally have trouble with words over one syllable? :D
Point proved.
Well done Omr, that was great…I bow before your wit :)
Thanks, Omr. Actually, my point had been proved six months ago, but your delayed acknowledgement is better than none .
You should spend more time addressing what’s discussed in the post, rather than taking scorned-women pot shots at others. Both of you are like typical gossipy Sri Lankan women who feel slighted and as a consequences feel the need to take every possible opportunity to attack perceived opponents. Well I hope you both got beautiful saris and some sexy lingerie as presents for Christmas at least.
We’d like to address what’s being discussed; unfortunately there’s you. Yes, I did get a nice thong from the Omr Sinhala Buddhist Cross-Dressing Collection, thanks.
Nice try with the scorned woman pot-shot, but don’t really follow any religion to be honest. Why don’t we leave the cross dressing and child abuse to your Christian priest dad.
Omr’s words of wisdom:
“You should spend more time addressing what’s discussed in the post”
Omr on stray dog culling:
“Well you might as well argue that Sri Lanka is overpopulated with humans (which it is) – so let the folks who can’t survive die of starvation/disease/poverty. Limit their food supply and limit their access to health services; that will bring about a “natural balance” and all will be fine and dandy.”
Omr on the tourist killing in Tangalle:
“Not any more “serious” than the murders of tourists in every other country in the world.
It’s certainly not more serious than ANY of the 80 000+ deaths than have taken place as a result of the last two decades of the war, or any of the thousands of deaths that took place during the JVP uprising, or any of the other (brutal) murders that take place in the island on a weekly basis – a whole family was hacked to death the other day. Not a “serious incident” for you?”
You could give Confucius a run for his money.
I can’t speak for DB but I certainly don’t feel slighted…I’m just amused by your lack of intelligence or rationality.
Omr’s words of wisdom:
“You should spend more time addressing what’s discussed in the post”
Omr on stray dog culling:
“Well you might as well argue that Sri Lanka is overpopulated with humans (which it is) – so let the folks who can’t survive die of starvation/disease/poverty. Limit their food supply and limit their access to health services; that will bring about a “natural balance” and all will be fine and dandy.”
Omr on the tourist killing in Tangalle:
“Not any more “serious” than the murders of tourists in every other country in the world.
It’s certainly not more serious than ANY of the 80 000+ deaths than have taken place as a result of the last two decades of the war, or any of the thousands of deaths that took place during the JVP uprising, or any of the other (brutal) murders that take place in the island on a weekly basis – a whole family was hacked to death the other day. Not a “serious incident” for you?”
Can’t speak for DB but I certainly don’t feel slighted by you. If anything I’m a bit awed at the level of stupidity you show on a regular basis.
Can’t, Omr, there was a long line of Buddhist priests standing behind you :D
Yeah, N, these comments threads are like one of Omr’s family Christmas parties that he describes above; ie you know that inevitably the alki uncle is gonna puke all over, and Omr always does. LMAO.
on the bright side he/she’s always good for a laugh :)
David, at least I don’t have a member of the clergy as my dad. But I suppose your Christian priest dad would have a great collection of frocks for you to try on, and tips on how to avoid being fondled. You could try them on spread eagled on the altar of your local church. Hallelujah!
600MillionDogs.org is developing a permanent, single dose, ORAL sterilant for stray dogs – designed as a dog food/treat/biscuit. It’s not ready yet, but when the formula is complete, it will be distributed on a nonprofit basis to the areas that need it most. Stray dogs are not to blame for their unlucky fate. They have suffered enough and should not be killed. Neither should people be too afraid to walk in their own neighborhood for fear of being chased by a stray dog. This permanent birth control dog food will eliminate the suffering and killing of innocent dogs around the world, as well as reduce the number of dog bites and human rabies cases.
Amazing how blatant forms of cruelty whether to humans or wild animals seem to be overlooked by those who think that feeding stray dogs is a meritorious act. The current vaccinate / sterilise drive will only reach a small proportion of the strays. The stray dog population can only be controlled by euthanisation and thanks to indi for raising this.