Day 43 - The beach streeties
Yesterday, I counted 35 stray dogs, aka streeties on the 2 km stretch of Thiruvanmyur beach. They are on the sands, on the streets, near the food stalls, everywhere. They are territorial and confident. You need to be confident too. For the most part, they are non-aggressive but they see humans only as source of food. If you put your hand in your pocket, they think you are carrying a treat for them. If you have a bag, they will definitely sniff you out.
Make sure you have no food on you while visiting the beach, or sitting on the sands.
Here's my streetie lament.
Large packs of streeties do roam
The beach of thiruvanmyur their home
Some brown, some black
Tricolours, mixed pack
They have changed the sandy biome.
They are the new beach mafia
Inter-pack wars and street ruffia
They bark, chase and fight
In the day and in the night
And all of us cower, I tell ya.
Around our wetland birds they run circles
With no ABC
They breed as you please
And could carry rabies, down the feral road we hurtle.
Post-covid, there seems to be an overflow in unplanned feeding
Biscuits, bead, rice, treats in amounts exceeding
Done with love and affection
But is it a misplaced direction?
What we need is more ABC and puppy adopting.
Not feeding them is not cruelty
It will help bring down numbers, naturally
We need to understand
The problem is far out of hand
Let’s strengthen the streetie adoption agency.
(ABC - animal birth control that is supposed to be a mission of the Greater Chennai Corporation. There does not seem to be much action from them. Sterilization of street dogs is being done in five ABC centres at Pulianthope, Kannammapet, Lloyd's Colony, Meenambakkam, and Sholinganallur. They are sterilising 55 dogs a day, how will that help when we have close to 2 lakh strays?
While Chennai grapples with this crisis, Goa has set a national example by retaining its rabies-free status since 2017; a feat achieved through a sustained partnership between government agencies and NGOs.
According to Karlette Anne Fernandes, Director, Companion Animal Management, World Veterinary Service, the groundwork was laid in 2013 through the launch of ‘Mission Rabies' in Goa. Initially started by a non-government organisation, the initiative soon gained critical backing from the Health and Family Welfare and Animal Husbandry Departments. Community participation played a crucial role in ensuring its success, she added.
Key measures under the programme included mass vaccination of stray dogs and widespread implementation of animal birth control surgeries. Veterinary teams identified and treated strays across the state, ensuring no locality was left uncovered. Anti-rabies vaccines were stocked in all primary health centres to improve access, particularly in rural areas where dog bite cases were more frequent and often fatal due to lack of timely treatment.
One of the challenges in other states has been the irregularity of annual vaccinations post-sterilisation. In contrast, Goa maintained its yearly vaccination drives without interruption, which proved vital in achieving and maintaining its rabies-free status.
Authorities have now shifted focus to monitoring pets entering Goa from other states via road, rail, or air. These animals are tracked and vaccinated, with support from their owners. This continued vigilance reflects a robust system built on vaccination, awareness, and compassion.
Goa's comprehensive approach has emerged as a model for the rest of the country. With rabies still claiming thousands of lives annually in India, experts suggest that replicating Goa's strategy across states could be the key to eliminating the deadly disease nationwide.
Note to myself - Contact BMAD - Besant Memorial Animal Dispensary, and see how to be part of the solution.
I just hope we accept the issue as an issue
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