Stray dog control needs more than vaccines, birth control surgeries

Chennai: Vaccinating stray dogs and performing birth control surgeries alone are not enough to prevent incidents of chasing, biting or the occasional human deaths due to dog attacks, said Krithika Srinivasan, professor of Political Ecology at Edinburgh University.
In an interaction here on Wednesday, she emphasised that public health initiatives are needed to enhance the positive aspects of human-street dog interactions, which directly and indirectly contribute to human well-being.Socialized street dogs are less likely to be involved in conflicts, she said.
In Srinivasan's view, both human safety and health of dogs are equally important. She argued that stray dogs should not rely on humans for food, as they must coexist with people without becoming dependent. "Do not make them semi-pets," she urged.
She said when animal lovers feed a group of dogs, some residents may object and complain to civic authorities, labelling the dogs a nuisance. This often results in the removal of dogs, who are then relocated to another area. However, this does not solve the issue, as the vacant space is soon filled by dogs from neighbouring areas, she said.
Supporting this view, professor V Ramasubramanian, senior consultant for infectious diseases at Apollo Hospital, said street dogs have long been an integral part of India's ecosystem. While most interactions between people and street dogs are uneventful, media reports often portray these encounters negatively. He stressed the need for better public awareness about the health aspects of such interactions.
Chennai: Vaccinating stray dogs and performing birth control surgeries alone are not enough to prevent incidents of chasing, biting or the occasional human deaths due to dog attacks, said Krithika Srinivasan, professor of Political Ecology at Edinburgh University.
In an interaction here on Wednesday, she emphasised that public health initiatives are needed to enhance the positive aspects of human-street dog interactions, which directly and indirectly contribute to human well-being. Socialized street dogs are less likely to be involved in conflicts, she said.
In Srinivasan's view, both human safety and health of dogs are equally important. She argued that stray dogs should not rely on humans for food, as they must coexist with people without becoming dependent. "Do not make them semi-pets," she urged.
She said when animal lovers feed a group of dogs, some residents may object and complain to civic authorities, labelling the dogs a nuisance. This often results in the removal of dogs, who are then relocated to another area. However, this does not solve the issue, as the vacant space is soon filled by dogs from neighbouring areas, she said.
Supporting this view, professor V Ramasubramanian, senior consultant for infectious diseases at Apollo Hospital, said street dogs have long been an integral part of India's ecosystem. While most interactions between people and street dogs are uneventful, media reports often portray these encounters negatively. He stressed the need for better public awareness about the health aspects of such interactions.