Management of Stray Animals in Urban India: Policy and Practice
Dr.Usha Jaiswal
Department of Veterinary Microbiology
Introduction
I am Dr Usha Jaiswal .I have try to highlight some points about the stray animals in different aspects in urban India. Although they (stray animals) were not treated well more in earlier and middle time, but now a days their condition has become very pathetic. Apart from veterinarian , being a pet lover my soul is very grieved to see their (stray animals) sorrows and pains. Every one has forgotten the animals’ right and existence on the earth.people avoidness and selfishness change the theme of safety and protection of animals.Urbanization leads to accidents, road crushing and traffic violence and thus making it more serious day by day.
There are huge population of the stray animals in India and especially more prominent in urban areas. Dog, cats, cattle, horses and some other animals are included in the stray animals, but dogs are most in number. According to 2019 census in India there are total 203.31 stray animals. Stray dogs counted 153.09 lakhs and stray cattle 50.21 lakhs. Seeing this so many policies, acts, Laws and practices are made, but these norms are not followed with emotions and dedications. For the completion the different norms, policies first raise mercy in the heart.
Prevention of cruelty on animals act in1960 containing different IPC(428, 429), sections, animal welfare bourd of India in 1962, animal birth control rule 2001etc. Many NGO(non governmental organization) like SAFI, PETA CUBA etc are made. Awareness, education, empowerment, technologies are made and launch ,but not potentially utilization of these all are occured. People just ignore it. They did not know how these animals are essential to maintain the ecological balance and making harmony among the people, animals and environment to fulfil the One Health Approach which directly support the vision @ 2047Viksit Bharat.
Importance of stay Animals
God made these animals not as “stray animals”, but made the animals with their proper existence and rights to fulfil the many purposes of the people. Animals make companionship with people in old age when children leave their parents alone. Animals prey on the rodent and indirectly control the zoonotic diseases like plague, leptospirosis. Animals manage the waste materials of the environment due to its scavenging nature . Cattle provide opportunity to the people to worship animals for the fulfil the religious purpose .
But people thought the animals are waste of the environment, they dedicated it as “stray animal” without shelter, feed and water. And thus make helpless these animals in every aspect. Animals can’t express their pain, can’t fight for owns’ right, because animals can’t speak, still remain faithful in silent way for the people.
Management
There are many ways , several policies, practices schemes are made to manage the stray animals in urban areas.
Raise mercy in the soul for the animals
If any animal is found as injured, helpless, hunger, thirsty help it immediately, care it quickly and drive cars, vans carefully.
Provide facilities weather wise
like more water arrangement in summer season and make warm environment like paddy sheath, make to wear wollen clothes to the animals.
Veterinary hospitals and animal scare organization must be made in frequent number in the cities.
Government and NGO must made officially a specific call number for the stray animals and it should be sticked on the wall of cities place to place in such way that every one can see it and use this when required.
Choose leader in every community ,who motivates the people to adopt stray animals.Make to rise companionship in the people hearts. Search the hidden petlovers, encourage for the veterinary education, generate more veterinarians and thus increase the value of the animals. Enhance animal hospital facilities.
Make many workshop, demonstration for the non veterinarian
To treat the animals if these animals injured accidently on roads and how to treat own self at home in emergency condition and thus how to protect people themselves from the live threatening diseases like rabies .Government facilities of vaccination and sterilization(neutering) the stray animals to control the animal population ,because dogs and cats are prolific in nature, they increase their population in large number in very short period of time.Vaccination campion must be done against rabies disease . Stray animal should be vaccinated against the rabies disease , which causes 100 percent mortality.
Punish the people who avoid the helpless animal in front of their door,.Prevention of cruelty on animal act 1960 made many sections, IPC(428,429) to punish the people who make cruelty like mammaing, poisoning, killing enforce to provide food and water atleast there should be facilities of dewarmer for the animals provided by the government hospital,ngo.
According to IPC 428 if any animal is harmed, killed, poisoned are made useless by any one and that animal has cost 10 rupees or more is punished with fines or imprisonment for 2 years or both. According 429 IPC says same things but including other animals also like elephant, camel, donkey, ox, cow etc and animal cost have 50 rupees or more than it 50 rupees are punished with fine or imprisonment for 5 years or both. Article 51A is also for stray animals safety and protection, proper feed and water should be provided , it’s a fundamental duty of every citizen.
Section 11 says that if stray dos are suffered due to reason of starvation and thirst, people should be punished. Animal Birth Control rule 2001.It includes different rule (3), (4), 5(g), 5(b), 9.
Animal birth control role 2001 made in the welfare of stray animals focus on the vaccination and sterilization of the dog with proper control and management. It’s rule 4 says that there should be made committee including different departments for the proper taking care of stray animal for the purpose of catching, transporting , sheltering, treatment, vaccination, neutering at the age above 4 months.
They must be treated in a helping manner and for these all at least two veterinary doctors must be required. Rule 9 says that dogs should be killed in a humane manner, if animals critically ill, badly injured and in very painful condition should be killed by a painless method called Euthanization. ABC rule follow to examine of rabid animals till its natural death, at least 14 days. SAFI (stray animal foundation of India), it’s a foreign based organisation. It provides shelter, vet care, feeding, resources, manpower, organizational support, education, guidance etc.
CUPA (people for animal compassion unlimited plus action), it includes medical support, shelter, routine care, vaccination, sterilization, Euthanization, use of technology, cattle byproduct, which promote female cattle and control male cattle population. Other NGOs like PETA and other organisation responsible for animal welfare in India.Stray cattle management by Goshala( the place of helpless cow shelter ). responsible for routine care and medical care support .
“Sheme of assistance for management of stray animals” ,it provides financial support for the stray cattle care .Sheme like Godhan Nya Yojna, it purchases cow dungs from the livestock owners in this way that farmers will be motivated to adopt stray cattle more.
Increases the government facilities, technologies, latest schemes, local urban organizations regarding animals protection and proper utilization. Making remember the municipality’ responsibilities. supporting and encouraging organizations which works for stray animals search the volunteers, motivate them towards animal’s care and love. public awareness and education. policies, practices only will be successful, when its awareness is properly spread among the people.
Conclusions
There are huge population of stray animals in urban India to maintain the harmony of the earth for the One health approach, its proper management it’s our responsibility. Due to good ecological harmony each creature can survive smoothly. To seeing this so many policies, practices rules acts are made time to time. But due to not proper utilized by authorities and in the lack of awareness problems are not minimize at optimum level. Technologies, manpower, NGOs are not properly regulated and utilized.
People need to aware, educate and motivate for the stray animals. People should be how these animals are important for our life, although it’s indirectly essential for the people should willingly adopt the stray animals without pay of money. Through this way, we can do something for animal and also can pay our duty towards nature, which always demand the harmony among people, animal and environment.
