On a hot Ramazan afternoon when Shabbir Ahmad steered his car towards the street where his house is located, suddenly a pack of dogs blocked his path while terribly barking. As many as dozens of stray dogs roam the streets of Fazal Town Phase-1 and surrounding localities like Railway scheme, Tajabad and Faisal Town.
“As if Ramazan-related issue like price hike was not enough, now the stray dogs issue has been added. Who is to blame,” questions Zainab Qazalbaash, the area resident, who often sends his teenage boy to buy some kitchen items from the area market. “Since the time three minor siblings were killed by a pack of wild dogs in Rahimyar Khan District, I have become really worried,” adds Zainab.
Stray dogs are literally terrorising the area residents as the ratio of humans to animals continue to balance out, said Anwer Abbas, a teenager.
“Near Butt Market, a pack of eight or more dogs hangs out around the poultry shops. Not far away, in Railway Scheme behind this market, a group of six or seven dogs has been known to wander. Every day, they walk during ‘sehri’ time in the morning and then again near ‘iftar’ time. They terrorise the mosque-goers also,” says Narmeen Ali, a housewife.
“Although the concerned department officials acknowledge the dog-packs problem is huge but take no measures for public safety. Packs of loose dogs even intimidate children on their walk to school. It's more than just a civic annoyance; it's become a bona fide safety concern,” says Ahmad Ali, a Fazal Town resident.
“At the beginning of current month, I stepped outside my house to investigate a strange noise and was mauled by four stray dogs. Though the attack left me unhurt but it impacted me psychologically,” says Moula Bakash. “Stray dogs continue menacing humans. It's been a persistent problem but nobody is there to contain the population of stray dogs. There is also
unrelenting frustration at the current situation,” adds he.
“As in the past this year we have no programme to mop up stray dogs, with a few supervisors, no trucks and no hired trappers. We are unequipped to deal with the problem. The lack of resources has limited our animal control's ability to effectively respond,” says Riaz Hasan, an official from the concerned department.
While describing his displeasure with the resources available for animal control, Riaz says further: “I have literally driven down the streets and seen stray dogs on every corner or empty lot.”
“The population of stray dogs must be checked. They spread diseases like rabies, skin diseases, hookworms, liver cyst and mite. City fathers should not be complacent. The dogs give birth to a number of puppies at a time twice a year,” says Safeer Hussain, a colleague of Riaz.
“Unless we manage city garbage better we will continue to have increased population of stray dogs as they feed on piles of garbage. City streets must be cleared of stray dogs even if that means killing them. We have the right to walk the streets without fear of being attacked by stray dogs,” says Rehmat Ali, a trader.
“I wonder why our middle class has begun to adopt Western concept of pet ownership, buying pedigreed dogs and bringing animals into their homes. We shouldn't become a nation of copy-cat and follow our own traditions,” says Farooq Hasan.