1. In a number of towns and Cities stray Dogs and Monkeys are creating hell and causing either injury or economic loss. Till very recently they were poisoning stray dogs and eliminating it. Some farmers, like grape growers etc., were waiting for such time, and would put it into pits dug for planting some of these plants as dead dog would be a very good source of manure. They used to wait for such opportunities.
2. Now things are fast changing. Municipalities also want to evade as much work and responsibilities as possible. To their rescue come the S.P.C.A. How much cruelty they eradicate in this world is doubtful but they are there.. Some of them, after eating a brief course of Chicken, mutton beef pork and other non Vegetarian food, come and sit in Dharani shouting slogans preaching against cruelty.. Their concern is towards the Mad dog which bites and kills a child and not for the Child that suffers and dies And so, the Municipalities started appeasing them, experimenting Birth control methods to control Dog population It became a source earning and profit to many is a different story. The Stray Dog menace continues unabated. Of course these measures only for stray ones, pet ones are safe. The case of monkeys is another story in addition to the Societies, our Religion considers monkeys as sacred and an Avathar of Hanuman and no harm can be done to it. The Monkeys if they eat one fruit, they spoil ten times that .If a monkey attacks a garden, it completely destroys before it walks out. In some of the places like Shivagange, Nandi, Kengal, Rangasthala, pilgrims cannot afford open their food packets. They some times attack humans also and children are easy targets. It is a pathetic sight to see them in cities without food and shelter. Of course, some people feed their for one day in a year on Hanuma Jayanthi day. Rest of the year their plight is miserable and it is only when they die Pooja is performed or a temple erected in its memory, even if it be on the middle of the Road!
3. For minimizing stray Dog menace without causing much injury to them a simple Plan occurs to my mind which should be acceptable to all. Dogs live only with human beings. You cannot take and dump them in forests. They will come back. Other traditional methods have failed. I suggest the Government should suitably amend the law. The Plan envisages segregating the males and female. It is very easy Job when they are very young and past the age of breast feeding. Specify some Districts as those meant for Male Dogs and some other as meant for female ones only.. After they are ready for transportation Transport either the male or the female as the case may be to their respective Districts. Even there some distance will have to be maintained as otherwise they may come in search of their mates.. Thus in the course of a few years excess Dog population is automatically weeded out. Remember a male left inadvertently at a wrong place can service many bitches and spoil the game. Ensure against it. Yes I am not unaware, it is also crime against nature, under the circumstances it is a lesser evil to choose more humane than killing them.
4. The whole idea of segregating male and female and transporting them to different directions is to control further breeding. Dogs longevity is bout 8 to 10 years. It is difficult to shift grown up ones and even if shifted, we do not know whether they will acclimatize to the new environment. And it is more likely they will run back to their original places. So, to that extent we have to bear with them for some years and they will vanish in course of time , of course, giving birth to a few pups every season.
5. . Regarding Monkeys, it is a different story. Our ancestors are very clever. I suggest that every (preferably every Government Bus} Bus that is plying towards thick Forest Areas like Charmadi Ghat, Shiradi Ghat, Kaakana Kote etc., MUST be provided with a cage which can at a time carry about twenty to twenty five monkeys in a single trip and monkeys must be caught and transported every day till the menace is brought down. Monkeys need water like human beings and they cannot survive in a place where there is scarcity of water. Existing Forest staff can be made use to handle the animal in a scientific and humane way. These measures save the Exchequer a lot of money and save the Public from an avoidable menace. Logistics should be worked out thoroughly.
6. Another simple and easy method would be to castrate all male monkeys/Dogs. It does not cost much. It may not find favour with public. Why, the most sacred of Animals in this Country Bulls are without mercy castrated, many times at villages, by crude methods. The Indian mind has accepted. The same principle should apply here also. In the instant case it is only a one time or short term measure. Once the numbers are controlled the practice can be stopped. Like wise, there are dog eating population in some countries, Why not export dog meat? It does not go well with Indian mind.
7. I live in SBM {Bank Colony) near Hanumantha Nagar. There is a lot of RAT Menace. It digs all drainage system and enters the house to do more damage. Formerly Municipalitis used to pump in some thing called Signo Gas or so to rat holes and eradicate them. Now the Paliike appears to have given a go by to all such good practices.. They are least bothered about Common Man and common trivial Problems. Legislators are busy patching their wounds. It is high time they revive the Old good systems and help the Public
8. whether my message reaches powers that be or” Dog Barks and caravan Passes,” time alone can tell.
CSP RAO.
