Animal Rights » Big Dog Blog

India is a country that being over run by stray dogs. According to a recent tally, there are approximately 100,000 homeless dogs many of whom carry the rabies virus. It seems that not only are these dogs homeless and unwanted by any humans but they seem to be particularly vicious to people who are near them. The CCT reports that it “gets hundreds of calls a week from frantic residents… asking for help after being bitten by a dog.”

Although the rabies vaccine is inexpensive, costing about $32, the poorest of citizens can’t afford it. “If a person does not start the vaccination process within hours of a dog bite, they can die of rabies within days or weeks.” With a reported 40,000 people getting bitten each year this otherwise small problem is turning into a giant disaster.

After becoming to irritated with the barking of a 2-year-old German Shepherd, the man visiting his neice decided to quiet the dog in the most abusive way possible- stabbing the dog in the head. According to testimony in a Los Angeles courtroom, Hugo Vargas Garcia “goaded the dog into lifting his paws up, reached over the fence and plunged a knife into the dog’s skull”. Fortunately the dog survived this tragedy and justice has prevailed.

Today Garcia was found guilty and this felony act of animal cruelty along with his past criminal record may be just enough to sentence him for the next ten years.

I think that it would be fair to say that a majority of dog owners are very familiar with dog rules and regulations, in the specific city and county in which you live. Knowing the laws and following them however, can sometimes be a contradition in iteslf though. Consider for example your local leash law. Many of us will comply with the given rule and when on the street use a leash for our dog but when we get to an open field or park where the traffic flow is minimal, then we let the dog free to roam about as he/she wishes. Or what about when you are on a walk and your dog needs to poop? I am sure that 99% of the time you remember to have a bag or two, depending on the trip, but what happens when you are caught off guard? Do you go go home and then return to the scene of the crime to clean up your mess as the law states you should? My guess is no but that doesn’t make you a bad dog parent; it simply makes you human.

One city is attempting to make one rule that is often not followed easier to comply with. In the city of Springfield, Oregon “officials are making in promoting a program that would allow pet owners to buy a license for their pooch during a routine trip to the veterinarian’s office.” This idea came about after a 2003 survey was taken of dog owners where it was discovered that only 12% of the residents city wide complied as compared to only 17% of the county residents. Although the registration fee is small, the benefit to having this done far out weighs it. Not only will this allow you feel good about being a fully law abiding citize but you can also rest easy knowing that if your dog gets out and is picked up by the animal control people, he/she will be returned in no time.

In keeping with the spirit of the many dog controversies lately, I bring a new topic to discuss regarding the health and welfare of our beloved canines. This new topic can be viewed as either progressive or very dictatorial depending on your views for preserving the purebred dog.

In India, the Animal Welfare Board has introduced new legislation, which is unheard of anywhere. This new set of rules, if passed, would be the first of its kind to give dogs the utmost protection and maintain a close eye on the dog owners to make sure they abide by the said rules. Think this sounds good right? Well, here are the rules they want to instate to keep the dog breeds pure:

1. A family tree, 4 generation long, to ensure the longevity of your dog’s lineage
2. Controlling the temperature in the home (60-85 degrees F)
3. Deciding what type of flooring your home must have
4. Deciding who, when and how often your pet may be social
5. The number of animals per family
6. Homes must be spacious for the dog
7. Homes must have smoke and heat detectors
8. Home shall remain flea and tick free
9. No tethering inside or outside under any circumstances

If you can abide by these rules than you shall live happily ever after. However, for those who can’t obey, the punishment can be a fine or imprisonment. As for the “mutt” dogs hanging around, it is the desire of this country to prevent “mongrels” in the future.

The UK has recently ruled that if you walk too many dogs at one time, you will be stopped and fined according to the new Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act. Whether you are walking our personal dogs or have a dog walking business, you must limit the amount of dogs you take out into the public. Someone will be on look out to catch you breaking this law either in person or by camera. Oxford’s spokesman reminds people of the reason for this ruling, “Some try to walk seven or eight dogs at the same time and we’ve got a problem there with trying to clean up their poo. Secondly, if they’re walking that many, they can’t have control of their dogs.” Good luck dog walkers because now you have more than just traffic and other dogs passing you by to watch for.