Dogs are thought to be the first ever domesticated animal and the symbiotic relationship between humans and dogs goes back to the Paleolithic Age. While a vast majority of canines are catering to a range of emotional and occupational needs of humans, there’s still a wide population of the species - that of strays – that is dubbed unwanted and deemed the cause of serious health afflictions – even leading to death.

In cities where a system to manage dog populations is in place, stray dogs wander alleys and streets, cohabitating usually without causing any issues to people. But in certain cities in developing countries, their presence can cause serious – if entirely preventable - issues. In Sindh, especially in Karachi, mismanagement of stray dogs has jeopardised public health, posing a danger to the lives of its citizens.

Since 2011, the graph of dog bite cases has been climbing. The numbers of such cases, already alarmingly high, has seen a further spike recently. From January 1 till March 20 there have been 2,400 cases of dog bites reported to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) alone. Last year, 8,467 such cases were reported to the JPMC, with 12 deaths caused by rabies. The aggregate number of reported dog bite cases in Sindh in 2020 was a whopping 150,000. Karachi was the most affected city with 17,800 incidents. While some dog bite victims lose their lives, others are left disabled and most are left grappling with severe psychological trauma.

The main threat that a dog bite causes is due to rabies. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), dogs are the primary source of transmission of rabies and responsible for more than 99 percent of the cases. Considering that rabies is a preventable and curable disease as well, one wonders why the disease is still taking lives. It’s ironical and utterly dismaying to know that while several countries in the world are completely rabies-free – including Australia, Japan, Singapore, England and Jamaica - we in Pakistan are still struggling to save those affected by it. The reason for this is the deplorable state of post-bite treatment in Sindh. Most cases are complicated and many lead to death due to the unavailability of dog bite vaccine and delayed and negligent care at hospitals.

To curb dog biting incidents and resulting deaths, there have been vicious killing sprees time and again, where the governments have gone on an overdrive, whenever dog bite incidents have started escalating. This has resulted in ruthless killing of thousands of stray dogs through poisoning or shooting. The public has also been offered cash for taking part in these barbaric campaigns. These campaigns have never succeeded. In 2006, after the wiping out of thousands of dogs in Sindh, in 2019 the situation was no better as 34,000 dogs were killed in the province. Last year again, 116,000 dogs were culled and right now we are once again confronted with the same problem. This clearly shows that this method is deeply flawed.

Learning from its past mistakes, the Sindh government appears to be trying currently to cope with this endemic more intelligently. It has started a complaint centre and announced the launch of a programme throughout the province to vaccinate dogs with anti-rabies vaccine (ARV). Moreover, the Sindh government has resolved to avoid the poisoning and shooting of dogs. Through this campaign, it is hoped that the dog population will become rabies-free, and thus, there will be not transmission of the disease in case of an attack. In addition to this, the government will also work on controlling their population.

To expedite the efforts and hold public officials accountable, the Sindh High Court (SHC) has recently decided to suspend provincial lawmakers in whose constituencies new dog bite incidents occur. The MPAs will thus be held liable and responsible for any and all dog bites in their areas, ensuring more rigorous action for the safety of their people. Following this order, two MPAs from Jamshoro and Rata Dero have been suspended. Additionally, all others have been sternly warned and instructed to oversee the vaccination drives in their areas.

Such attention by the law and the government is crucial to putting an end to the dog bite endemic. Fifteen years ago, Turkey was going through the same situation. Initially, it resorted to cruel means and either culled or deported the dogs to a deserted island. Once it was understood that such approaches weren’t sustainable solutions - rather gave birth to new issues - Turkey came up with ideas through which today Istanbul’s people are living safely alongside 130,000 stray dogs roaming freely on the streets. This was achieved by spreading awareness that these creatures have to be treated with the respect that living things deserve, as per Islamic guidelines and by conducting drives that tracked, sterilised, fed, treated and vaccinated all its canine residents. Creating such a regime might seem a far cry for Pakistan today, but by learning from Turkey’s model, we can try to adapt it to our situation and come up with a more permanent solution to this recurrent problem.

It seems that the countries that have succeeded in finding a viable solution are the ones that have dealt with the endemic according to suggestions given by authorities like the World Health Organisation (WHO). The most effective way to get a grip on this rising problem is to implement Animal Birth Control (ABC) through a TNR procedure (trap, neuter, release). In many countries that previously struggled like Pakistan, this method has had most efficacy. Neutering of strays not only helps reduce their population but can also take away their aggression. Even neighbouring India got positive results with this method.

Private organisations in Pakistan are also making considerable efforts in trying to eradicate this issue. The Ayesha Chundrigar Foundation, (ACF), and Pakistan Animal Welfare Society, (PAWS) have been working to curb these incidents, as per guidelines issued by the WHO and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA). Activists associated with these organisations say that if the government adopts these methods then all the horrific injuries and deaths can be prevented, without harming the dogs. Indus Hospital is among the companies spearheading the WHO’s initiative for a rabies-free Pakistan (RFP) whose mission is to eradicate rabies by 2030. No one entity can do this alone.

The development and application of a multi-pronged and comprehensive strategy is needed. It can only be formulated if all stakeholders - private and public - work together to end this endemic. Pakistan should follow the example of the countries that have eradicated the problem.

The author is an Islamabad-based freelance writer. Her interests include social development, arts and travelling. She also manages social communities on Facebook. She can be reached at: mirzafarah16@gmail.com