DOGS are like any other living creature on the planet and they have a right to live once they are born. THE conflict between animal rights activists advocating compassion for the stray dogs and another section of people perceiving them to be a menace is not unique to Bahrain! The uncontrolled surge in the number of stray dogs in some countries has made the lives of residents nightmarish as they chase the two-wheelers and disturb the peace by barking loudly at night.
But, if that affects our peaceful life, then we should find a solution and implement suitable measures to safeguard it.
Here are my thoughts on how to tackle the stray animals problem in Bahrain:
1. A majority of the dogs have an owner as the furry canines are loved by many people. Let all of them be registered by paying a nominal fee. Also, penalise anyone having unregistered pets. Each registered dog will get an unique identity number and the owner of each pet will be responsible for their pet like they are responsible for their children, including repatriation.
2. All stray dogs should be caught and housed in a proper shelter. The government can take the initiative and invite interested individuals to contribute to the upkeep of these dogs, which should be spayed or neutered so that they will not have any more pups. Putting them to sleep should be the last resort.
3. Devise a policy for repatriating pets to the expatriate owner’s home country so that they will think in advance and find ways of transporting them at the right time. If possible, offer them concessional travel rates to encourage them to take along their pets.
4. Build a cremation ground for the dead animals so that they get a respectful farewell. It is not advisable to let them die on the streets or discard their bodies in the waste disposal bins.
Pets become stray when somebody abandons them. If a proper rule exists for their safety, nobody will dare to throw them out irresponsibly; we are living in a world where it is not easy to expect responsibility from each and every individual.
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