There are one too many bumps and holes in our roads that our city folks have mastered the art of driving, even on broken roads. But with relaying of tar roads, which has begun now, people seem to have slowly forgotten the misery of driving on them. Unfortunately, even before it could wade off from their memory, a new trouble seems to have started chasing them in the form of stray dogs, whose increasing population is threatening the public in many ways.
The chasing dogs
Crossing the main roads, if riders happen to enter narrow gullies, these territorial kings start welcoming them with a red carpet. They sleep like Sadhus in the corner of the roads, but the moment they spot a vehicle entering the area, they get infuriated and start chasing them. Mostly, those riding two-wheelers are the ones who get affected. As stray dogs chase them, they drive their vehicles in panic, and at one stage, they lose balance and fall from their vehicles, and head back home with severe injuries.
Human Casualties
In a similar incident, when retired professor Ponnuswamy was riding with his friend on the Nanjundapuram - Podanur road to watch the Kabali movie, suddenly a stray dog came in-between. It made him lose balance and fall down along with the pillion rider. The accident left Ponnuswamy with severe head injuries. Although he was admitted to Coimbatore Government Hospital soon after, he died not responding to treatments administered to him. Like these, many stray dog-related accidents, keep happening in various parts of the city.
Thriving on human leftovers
Garbage mounds, graveyards, and empty dwelling spaces remain shelter to these stray dogs. When birth control surgeries are not carried out effectively the population of stray dogs begins multiplying every 40 days. Overflowing garbage bins and callous discarding of 'meat waste' by restaurants, slaughterhouses, and even by residents instigates a bloody in-fight between the canines to fetch a portion of meat. The aggravated behavior among themselves also makes them aggressive towards human beings, whom they attempt to scare, chase and bite, just as they try to settle territorial intrusion of fellow canines.
Increasing number of dog-bite cases
A government hospital staff spoke to us regarding this issue. He said: "Not only from Coimbatore, but also from Pollachi, Udumalpet, Palakkad and Kerala regions, people are coming to Coimbatore Government Hospital for treating dog bites. Here we have more than sufficient stock of medicines to treat them. But dog bite is a severe punishment. An animal welfare organization, functioning in Madukkarai is catching the stray dogs and leaving them in the forest. But this doesn't seem to be working, as the stray dogs are migrating back to urban areas. If this menace has to stop, authorities should take up the issue seriously and follow it up with necessary action."
Lasting solution
A steady animal birth control program, backed by efficient waste disposal can bring down the population of stray dogs dramatically. But, the responsibility to implement it is in the hands of the Ministry of Sanitation. People are of the opinion that due to the sluggish approach of the concerned Ministry, stray dog population in the city has grown manifold. In Chennai, the Chennai Corporation, under a five-year pilot project - sanctioned by the Union Health Ministry, has started a massive animal birth control mission with the help of four other organizations. The Coimbatore Corporation too should go on a similar drive to reduce the stray dog population, and save the lives of people.
The chasing dogs
Crossing the main roads, if riders happen to enter narrow gullies, these territorial kings start welcoming them with a red carpet. They sleep like Sadhus in the corner of the roads, but the moment they spot a vehicle entering the area, they get infuriated and start chasing them. Mostly, those riding two-wheelers are the ones who get affected. As stray dogs chase them, they drive their vehicles in panic, and at one stage, they lose balance and fall from their vehicles, and head back home with severe injuries.
Human Casualties
In a similar incident, when retired professor Ponnuswamy was riding with his friend on the Nanjundapuram - Podanur road to watch the Kabali movie, suddenly a stray dog came in-between. It made him lose balance and fall down along with the pillion rider. The accident left Ponnuswamy with severe head injuries. Although he was admitted to Coimbatore Government Hospital soon after, he died not responding to treatments administered to him. Like these, many stray dog-related accidents, keep happening in various parts of the city.
Thriving on human leftovers
Garbage mounds, graveyards, and empty dwelling spaces remain shelter to these stray dogs. When birth control surgeries are not carried out effectively the population of stray dogs begins multiplying every 40 days. Overflowing garbage bins and callous discarding of 'meat waste' by restaurants, slaughterhouses, and even by residents instigates a bloody in-fight between the canines to fetch a portion of meat. The aggravated behavior among themselves also makes them aggressive towards human beings, whom they attempt to scare, chase and bite, just as they try to settle territorial intrusion of fellow canines.
Increasing number of dog-bite cases
A government hospital staff spoke to us regarding this issue. He said: "Not only from Coimbatore, but also from Pollachi, Udumalpet, Palakkad and Kerala regions, people are coming to Coimbatore Government Hospital for treating dog bites. Here we have more than sufficient stock of medicines to treat them. But dog bite is a severe punishment. An animal welfare organization, functioning in Madukkarai is catching the stray dogs and leaving them in the forest. But this doesn't seem to be working, as the stray dogs are migrating back to urban areas. If this menace has to stop, authorities should take up the issue seriously and follow it up with necessary action."
Lasting solution
A steady animal birth control program, backed by efficient waste disposal can bring down the population of stray dogs dramatically. But, the responsibility to implement it is in the hands of the Ministry of Sanitation. People are of the opinion that due to the sluggish approach of the concerned Ministry, stray dog population in the city has grown manifold. In Chennai, the Chennai Corporation, under a five-year pilot project - sanctioned by the Union Health Ministry, has started a massive animal birth control mission with the help of four other organizations. The Coimbatore Corporation too should go on a similar drive to reduce the stray dog population, and save the lives of people.