Stray dogs pose some of the most serious dangers on Jodhpur’s streets. Many of these dogs have not been socialized with humans and have become feral, which means they are aggressive towards all humans.
There are many reasons why this need exists. First, gangs of stray dogs can be very aggressive. Every day when I go for a walk in my neighborhood, I hear at least one dog fight between the stray dogs. Some dogs are so aggressive that they threaten humans and other animals, bite people who are walking near where they are hanging out, and they sometimes even attack people riding motorcycles and scooters. Second, since the dogs live on the streets, they defecate all over the streets. This makes walking on some streets a little like walking through a mine field – you have to step very carefully. Third, many people leave tortillas and leftover food on the streets for the dogs because feeding animals fulfills one of the tenets of some Indian religions. Unfortunately, this adds to the larger problem of streets strewn with litter and attracts more rodents. Fourth, a very large percentage of dogs have diseases, such as rabies, that are dangerous for people who are bitten. Fifth, motor vehicle accidents often happen when motorists are trying to avoid dogs who are sleeping in the middle of the street or wandering around the streets.
Animals Home Society, Animal House, Karunna Foundation, and Dog Home Foundation are some animal shelters in the city that accept and care for stray dogs. However, the dilemma posed by the stray dog population in Jodhpur has not been resolved and the need for clean, safe streets is certainly not being met.
