Sterilisation holds the key to Mumbai’s stray dog problem

As the stray dog issue gathers steam, experts are keen to promote canine birth control methods

Stray dogs are swiftly becoming Mumbai’s largest animal issue, and Mumbaikars are torn between loving them and hating them. And as many of the city’s female canines head into mating season, the baying hounds amp up the decibel levels. But many veterinary experts are of the opinion that the solution to the issue lies in sterilisation.

How many times has your sleep been disturbed because of the howling of stray dogs in your locality? Ever thought about a sound sleep sans the barking. Your dream could soon be a reality if all the stray dogs in your area were sterilised.

Sterilisation is a procedure where - in the case of female canines, the ovaries and uterus are removed, and in the case of males, the testicles are removed.

After the procedure is carried out the dogs are tagged by the organisation carrying it out.

Prior to 1998, stray dogs were electrocuted in order to control their population. But in 1998, a law was passed to stop the killing of stray dogs.

“The sterilisation of dogs is very important, as it controls the dog population. It also reduces aggression, biting and fighting between dogs,” says Abodh Aras, CEO, WSD (Welfare of Stray Dogs). He further adds that dogs become aggressive during the mating season and when they are sterilised, they become docile. Also, when sterilised, they don’t migrate to other territories and this brings down the number of fights between dogs. It also, some Mumbaikars may be pleased to know, stops them howling.

Sterilisation also helps reduce the mortality rate in dogs. It brings down the incidence of prostate cancer in males and controls uterine problems in females.

“Earlier people were not aware about sterilisation. The BMC van would simply come and take away the dogs. We had a tough time convincing people and educating them on this topic. Now, things are changing and people are becoming more concerned,” says Aras.

 “I believe that it is necessary to keep down the population of stray dogs, as we don’t have the infrastructure to cater to them,” says Nilesh Bhanage, honorary secretary, PAWS (Progressive Animal Welfare Society).

Bhanage states that people usually call up organisations like his when they want strays sterilised, and they in turn co-ordinate with the BMC. “Un-sterilised dogs reproduce at a faster rate. So when we tell people that sterilisation helps in keeping the dog population under control, they readily accept to do it,” says Jay Simha, campaign manager, PETA.

But not every Mumbaikar is OK with the idea. Colonel JC Khanna, secretary of BSPCA (Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) says, “Some people frown on it for religious reasons.”