Stray Dog Menace in Big Cities

[Hunter]

Spot on ! penpusher! Spot on!
As a father of 3, I do share your concerns whole heartedly!

Hi Jonah,

I completely agree with your viewpoint that positive action should taken immediately!
Unfortunately us Indians are used to parlimentary committees being formed to conduct a "probe" into the above affairs of "grave concern".Then after a year or so there we will see another committee being formed to "probe"the affairs of the previously formed commitee!
Then still a year later they will consult with Kofi Annan,Bono,Ban See Moon and the whole f.....g UN general Assembly to come to some "understanding "of the subject ! So we are looking at around 3 years b4 pen is put to paper!!!!!!!!

In short we too are getting soft in the head and sometime pussy foot on matters which need urgent and immediate action....ofcourse should our kith and kin be affected directly...then Parliment will besieged!!!!!!!!

[Yaj]

Mack The Knife, Hallelujah!!

Yaj.

[eljefe]

HUnter, Hot as the topic is, Would appreciate if you mind your F's and B's. Have earlier deleted posts of another poster for the same. making a point does'nt need profanities.

As a father, I cringe at the thought of reading this news report-however , it is India specific-The stray dog attacks-in the west, its the pet dog attacks which are highlit.
Rare reports of packs of FERAL dogs are also reported.
Dogs share a relationship with humans going back to earliest evolution, cant deny the strong views on this.
Only in a totalitarian regime like china can an order like this be implemented.Any one seen stray dogs in Beijing...?
yes, the pack involved MUST be destroyed.fastest and most humane method will be firearms, by trained shooters-not the 'police -fire -in-air-to-disperse-mob-2 dead -2 km -away' boys!
However, for elimination of the 'stray dog menace' for the lack of a better term, let the fat cat people's reps get off their hands and find a solution-we do have recourse to several legal solutions, all proved tremendously effective in the last few months.
We do eliminate our serial killers and other commiters of heinous crimes, dont we?

As a medical professional, i also have to add that RABIES HAS NO CURE-I have seen a case of full blown rabies twice; one made it to the survivors list after being transported to US and being on extensive life support for 8-9 mo...first of its kind, ever!
There is a major shortage of rabies and antisnake venom in developing countries, as per a WHO report, BECAUSE the developed countries have almost eliminated rabies and are using an expensive, chick embryo snake anti venom, so there is NO MONEY to be made in making el cheapo vaccines for us third worlders.

As for the mass extermination of all stray dogs, we cant compare it to neutering/spaying blue bulls and pigs and rogue elephants
This is a very 'urban India specific problem' and needs a balanced view point. Taking a life , even in a blood sport, is an onerous responsibility on the conscience, hence the need for 'clean kills' Agreed?

When people start degrading life to vermin levels, is when we have the onset of the 'Dachau syndrome' extermination camps and smoking chimneys...
Like I am vehemently against the so called cull shooting practiced / or opening up-Welcome and good shooting to those of you who want to, however, i am not an executioner by virtue of owning guns and I believe -"its not the kill but the thrill of the chase" so no 'shoot and hand over the carcass to the DFO for cremation' for me

[penpusher]

Mack The Knife,

Got your point.Like I said,extermination is not a long term solution,but in cetain areas and in certain situations,it's the only one.

Another thing,instead of waiting for something like this to happen and then taking action,should not something be done beforehand.What do you feel should be done?

penpusher

[mundaire]

Before Ms. Gandhi had it banned, municipal corporations used to routinely "cull" stray dogs... I believe the method employed was usually poison...

Cheers!
Abhijeet

[Mack The Knife]

Damn computer! Switched off as I was completing my reply. Will keep it short and to the point this time.

Another thing,instead of waiting for something like this to happen and then taking action,should not something be done beforehand.What do you feel should be done?

I would suggest tackling this problem at the micro/street level. If and when a genuine threat is perceived from one dog or many of a particular area, call the concerned authorities. If PFA does not permit the use of dog catchers in your area, you should call them and tell them to have the dogs removed within 24 hours. If this is not done, inform the police in writing that you intend to shoot/poison the dogs. Once shot/poisoned burn them if you don't want to attract dogs from other areas. It would be best if one had the support of the residents of that particular area and the letter to the police should be signed by all or as many as possible. If a firearm is to be used it would be best if those not involved in the cull were to stay indoors to preclude a shooting accident.

I would be reluctant to use an airgun and anything more powerful in a built-up area could be a recipe for disaster. So unless you are very sure of what you are doing, keep that gun at home. However, I personally would opt for a firearm over poison. The former is a humane way to dispatch an animal whilst the latter isn't.

A bit off topic but if you find someone being attacked by a dog throw a bucket of water or hose it down rather than try to wrestle it away. I cannot guarantee this but I have seen this method used very effectively but just the once. Perhaps Mehul could throw come light on method.

Mack The Knife

[Pran]

I personally feel BEML authorities are to blame for the death of little girl in BEML township.There are a few acres of unfenced(and unguarded) of BEML land right behind the township.Local chickenshops dump their waste in this area and it's become a breeding ground for strays.Considering the large area I doubt if the civic authorities will ever be succesful in controlling the stray dog population there.


Pran

[Ranjeet Singh]

A bit off topic but if you find someone being attacked by a dog throw a bucket of water or hose it down rather than try to wrestle it away. Mack The Knife

Have seen this on TV on Discovery I guess, some monks controlling tigers in Thailand or some place with just mugs of water and a raised stick...

Or do it like the phoreners do....carry a pepper spray...I guess even this ain´t legal right?

Ranjeet

[mehulkamdar]

Let me voice a public opinion here that I might normally have voiced in private to the other moderators - we need to delete the posts that suggest xxxxxxxxxxxx........ immediately and also all the following posts. We do NOT want any unneccesary attention to IFG on an issue that is as trivial to the shooting sports, gun ownership and to conservation and hunting as this one is. And neither do we want all hunters - despite Mack The Knife, Asif, Yaj and others' vehement defence of ethics in shooting anything live - tarred with the antis' brush. Please feel free to voice your opinions on this shortly and we could then delete this thread and move on.

Asif,

This is OT but I am sure you would find it interesting. In 2004, UW MAdison made a major breakthrough in saving the life of a girl from Fond Du Lac who became the first person in history to survive full blown rabies without having been vaccinated earlier. There have been five earlier cases of survival but they were all cases where vaccination had earlier taken place. A brief reference is at the CDC website at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5350a1.htm

Even as we speak, similar research is being conducted at the University of Chicago Hospital and UW Madison. I am sure you could get more details on the net if you would like them, but, if you need more info, just let me know. My wife works at U Chicago and I have a cousin who is a doctor at UW MAdison.

Cheers!

[Yaj]

I would just like to state that I am not against hunting if legal(though personally I would prefer coursing with hounds if asked to choose).But even a hunter must have respect for his prey and trivialising the taking of any life is not acceptable to me.
The jingoistic tones of some of the posts I think cause damage to the cause of responsible gun owners.It fits into the stereotype of "trigger happy yahoos" which the antis would love.
Personally speaking this thread was very disturbing.
I think deleting the relevant posts or even the whole thread may be a good move.
Regards,
Yaj.

[jonahpach]

Hey Guys!

Sorry If my post raised a few hackles either way! It's just that I was too deeply moved by the (avoidable) incidence of the deadly attack by stray dogs on a helpless child.. Being so far away and unable to do anything constructive to help the bereaved family dosent help.

Wont have amounted to much nor have been much of a consolation but If It were my city, I like to believe I would have done something.. Anything! than sit Idly in my home and post posts here.

But this being the only place where I can voice my concerns and share my opinions.. U guys had had to bear the brunt of It.

Anyway thanks all the same and hope for a better world for all of us to live in..

Jonah

[Mack The Knife]

Jonah, you can take that piddly little barb of yours and shove it where the Sun does not shine.

[jonahpach]

Mack The Knife

I hope you are not suggesting something and making a pass at me..



Jonah

[mehulkamdar]

Jonah,

A simple question for you. Where are you located in India?

I have a very specific reason for asking this question.

[Yaj]

Jonah,

A simple question for you. Where are you located in India?

I have a very specific reason for asking this question.

I think I know the reason , read "The Hindu"?
Yaj.