The street dog issue

Haphazard urban planning and human overpopulation have led to a correspondingly huge population of street dogs in most Indian cities. They cause the following problems:

• Rabies–a fatal disease which can be transmitted to humans. Although all warm-blooded animals can get and transmit rabies, dogs are the most common carrier. India has the highest number of human rabies deaths in the world (estimated at 35,000 per annum)

• Dog bites-Most occur when dogs are trying to mate and fighting among themselves–pedestrians and other humans in the vicinity often get bitten accidentally. Females with pups to protect may also be aggressive and bite people who approach their litter

• Barking and howling–an accompaniment to dog fights which invariably take place over mating

Click to read some frequently asked questions about street dogs