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| An unknown friend of mine who I really miss |
Bangalore is known as the garden city. As the influx of population increased, the city was turning into a garbage city. Primarily due to lack of scientific and organized garbage disposal mechanism, the city was facing a crisis. Garbage is collected usually by the mornings, however most of the population in the city does not work on the basis of a specific time limit. This caused garbage to be dumped at irregular intervals and get accumulated. The presence of food and decaying elements make the situation beyond description. So far, stray dogs have been the zero cost solution to combat the rising volume of garbage and the menace of rat infestation on the city streets. If planned and organized systematically, the role of stray dogs could have been crucial in combating garbage, rat infestation and crime rates in an eco-friendly manner.
I came across a pack of stray dogs while I worked in the offshore unit of a Hollywood post production company in Bangalore. My work schedule was hectic and often I had to wait for the cab to pick me up and drop me home at odd hours of the day. I remember a face that accompanied me during those one and a half years of my struggle. Often escorting me to the door step and chasing away strangers at 2 AM, while I wait for transportation or open and close gates after taking my vehicle out. The stray dogs are a menace that could be converted into a benefit. Most of them respond to drunkards and strangers and bark them away. These dogs are extremely territorial and they maintain their segments of territory. This could mean that each territory has its watch dogs. This comes extremely helpful in a city where crime rates are high and it gets less safe to park vehicles outdoors. They also get rid of rats that infest the city streets along with piles of garbage. It was a fascinating system within the city. However it is important to keep the population under control, since it could lead to dog fights and emergence of violent packs. Local administration and independent bodies have come up with neutering and vaccination as a solution for this crisis. Yes neutering and vaccination is a bitter pill to chew to keep the population under control, however it works in benefit of a larger population. Vaccinated and neutered dogs are left with a significant portion of their ears cut off to mark that they have completed the vaccination phase. It is done so as to make identification easier while capturing strays from the streets for rehabilitation. The process had been in place in the city for over two decades and animal rights activists had not efficiently responded against this or came up with a viable solution other than adoption drives. Bangalore is an amazing city driven by technology. However it is horrible to find disfigured dogs roaming the city whose ears are infected as a result of 'marking'. It would not be too hard for the authorities to come up with a viable solution that will solve this issue in a more humane manner.
Yes, growing population of stray dogs is a menace for any metropolis. However it is the need of the hour to thank these friends for their services. Scared and disfigured dogs roam the city and such a sight is not what Bangalore want to project to the International community. To many of Bangalore's working population who reach home late, the particular stray dogs present in the streets they live in are common faces. At the cost a biscuit or two what is offered is friendship and security to an extent. These dogs accompany civilians during their long walk from cab or while waiting for transportation at darkest hours. Cleaning the streets from rat infestation and garbage as they serve the city more than any average citizen. Bangalore is famous of its common sense approach to solve its various problems. The city stands tall among other older metros in India for its vibrant culture and attitude. The disfigured faces of these friends raise not just the question of morality but how human beings can thank their fellow beings. It is time for Bangalore to go out of the box and stand tall yet again as a glaring example.
