Manali: How would you feel travelling from a long journey and being welcomed by a pack of stray dogs to receive you in Manali. Certainly not a very good sight and even the thought of it. But not kidding you, the scenario seems not merely a thought but Manali the popular tourist town is living with an overgrown population of stray dogs these days. Roaming freely in the vicinity of the Manali Mall road, the stray dogs have their gala time threatening the visitors.
Dogged by these strays, the Manali town is not a very pleasant one. The sight could still be ignored if these strays were a little sober as well. But to add to the misery of the tourists visiting the place and the residents, these dogs bark at them, chase them and act as a threat to their presence around. Posing a serious threat to the tourists at the Mall road of Manali, only 500 mts patch spending more than five crores by public works department, were the tourist were supposed to roam freely specially the young kids and the aged fellows who find the premises as a danger zone because of the unwanted dogs. The Mall road is maintained by Manali Nagger Parishad Manali.
The tourist and residents seem very clearly annoyed with the menace. Pouring their hearts out and speaking about the issue, many have come forward to bring the true picture out in the front among the masses. “One can easily imagine the impression the Manali town gives to visitors, especially foreign guests when stray dogs welcome you at the mall road. “It’s not only an eyesore but also a big threat to the visitors here, Vinod, a local resident said.
Rashimi Chauhun a animal lover said that there are many causes for the stray dog problem. The most important reason is abandonment behavior by residents. A great numbers of dogs were abandoned by their owners for some reasons, such as family tragedies moving and getting married, sickness and intolerable physiological characteristics of pets, no money for treatment, unwilling to continue feeding. In fact, many stay dogs in Detroit were abandoned because their owners could no longer afford to keep them. She added stray dogs have many negative impacts on city environment and human health. Stray dogs cause noise pollution, fecees garbage and traffic accidents. Among Detroit’s many problems, this one tugs at the heart strings: thousands of stray dogs roaming the streets at night.
Rashimi revealed the stray dogs can cause a collision when dogs run into the road, which might even result in injury to other people and also to itself. Moreover, stray dogs have become a bigger threat to human health and lives. Stray dogs can transfer and spread Rabies a deadly disease.
Arun Kumar Tourist who had come to the Manali , said, “What if a dog bites a tourist, especially someone going abroad. You can easily imagine the situation of the victim in such a scenario.”
“They have occupied the entire Mall road and move freely in all streets here,” a shopkeeper Chandan said. He added that most of the tourists do not dare to walk on roads with packs of dogs. Another shopkeeper Manjeet Gulati said, “Nobody expects stray dogs moving freely on the main shopping area of a tourist destination. Authorities should take action to control their population.”
Manali nagar parishad president Shabnam Tanwar said efforts were being made to keep the streets free from dogs. “We plan to sterilize and vaccinate stray dogs to control their population. We hope to make the town free of stray dogs very soon”.
Sanjay Dutta, an engineer by qualification but is a journalist by choice.
He has worked for the premier new agency Press Trust of India and leading English daily Indian Express.
With more than a decade of experience, he has been highlighting issues related to environment, tourism and other aspects affecting mountain ecology.
Sanjay Dutta lives in a village close to Manali in Kullu valley of Himachal.
All you can do is complain. Take a stand, vaccinate them, feed them properly.. They are supposed to be man’s best friend.. I have been to Manali and there was not a single time I felt the threat. Stop spreading such bullshit article.
Stray dogs have marked a beginning of the end of humanity. ABC rules by the ex Madam Minister (notified even when her ministry was not concerned with the issue) , have left the humans helpless against the stray dog menace. If this continues, it will not be too late that the stray dogs will grow to the extent to be able to rule the planet and extinguish the humanity in the process. Animal lovers care only for dogs and do not raise their voice against en-mass killing of cattle, goats, hens, fish, pigs etc. This raises doubt about their intentions making one believe in the allegations appearing in the media. Why the animal lovers which for less than 1% population of this country should be allowed to take the entire country by ride.
What a pathetic article. Exaggerated and incorrectness abounds, and the authors sad attempt to gain visibility by clearly stating his bias against dogs, and also therefore displaying his lack of knowledge about dog behaviour and empathy as well.
Intolerant people who publish absolute garbage like this should be deleted from the internet.
Stray dogs are not a menace and will leave you alone as long as you don’t threaten them, and in fact, they are much more friendly than even house pets if you just give them a chance.
The violence and hatred spitting from the language in this article are obvious. Dogs are travellers on this planet, creatures of God just as you and I are. They feel pain, sadness, just like us. How arrogant can you be to think you’re the only creature to experience emotions and physical pain?
Honestly, this article makes Indians seem ignorant and heartless and from the other comments I can clearly see this is not the case. How embarrassing for you.
All lies, they are not a menace, I have spend a good amount of time here, they are very friendly, if there is a problem that problem is the people who abandon their dogs. Rottweilers, German Shepherds, Labradors, golden retrievers. All domesticated dogs left for dead. Have some shame writing a wrong article just because it is acceptable instead of spreading awareness. All lies in this article. Your thinking towards such disgusting act by humans couldn’t get worse. Get help, I’m not even going to ask you to help them, you should get help if you think in such way.