How Many Dogs Did You See?

The issue of “stray dogs” resurfaces from time to time. Each year, we hear news reports about attacks that ultimately end in the killing of an innocent man. We ask God to have mercy on him.

At that time, I decided to count every dog I encountered on my way. I tallied 17 dogs—may God protect you.

If only I hadn’t made that decision. As soon as I parked my car and started walking, I encountered seven more dogs on the other side. “I’ll bite them, and they’ll bite me,” I thought to myself. “Let fitness go to hell.” So I turned around, headed home, and ordered KFC.

I once thought—some time ago—of taking out my licensed rifle and going to shoot these cursed dogs. But after reviewing the laws, I pondered, calculated, looked around, frowned, and realized the consequences for my situation.

The penalty could be up to one year in prison, and the carcasses of the dogs would become sources of infestation. Thus, there are two harms: a loss of my freedom and diseases spreading among Muslims. This leads to ruin in this world and ruin in the hereafter. We ask God for well-being for us and for you.

Therefore, we must first deconstruct the problem before we can solve it. Why do stray dogs multiply? Where and how do they live? And how can we get rid of them safely?

Stray dogs thrive and multiply in dirty areas filled with debris. Their numbers increase around places abundant with restaurants and slaughterhouses. This is because restaurants dispose of surplus or expired food in open containers that any animal can access. Behind some slaughterhouses, dead livestock from certain sellers are left behind.

This document has objectives and guidelines that encourage dealing with stray dogs that pose a risk to humans by transmitting diseases, and promoting responsible ownership in accordance with Law No. 9 of 1969 and Law No. 112 of 2015.

The organization also emphasizes that culling dogs—which is permitted by both laws under certain conditions—is not sufficient on its own. Culling is effective in the short term, but in the medium and long term, these dogs will reappear due to the lack of responsible ownership and the failure to change the environment that provides abundant sustenance. Additionally, people who improperly dispose of their dogs are sufficient to cause their return, especially since dogs reproduce rapidly.

We do not need a temporary campaign aimed at momentary appeasement, but rather a study coupled with a sustainable action plan and implementation mechanism. This should reveal the locations where these dogs are prevalent, their food sources, and how to combat their spread and capture them, followed by sterilization and vaccination, or culling if necessary.

What we need first is to control unregulated food sources. These dogs have three main food sources: open garbage bins that emit foul odors attractive to dogs, acting as an open buffet throughout the day. Next are restaurants, most of which operate continuously throughout the week, disposing of their waste more than once a day, which necessitates increasing garbage collection frequency to more than once daily.

Then there is the “well-meaning” individual who throws food on sidewalks designated for pedestrians. This person often believes they are doing good by feeding the animals, but in reality, these feeding spots are like traps set for passersby.

This “well-meaning” individual needs behavior change through guidance rather than punishment initially. This change can only be achieved through awareness campaigns, a responsibility shared by various ministries, veterinary clinics, and specialized companies.

While awareness is generally an effective tool, there is a minority that will not be deterred except by fines that compel them to change their behavior.