Satos de Mumbai, India

Sat@s de Mumbai----Tens of thousands of homeless dogs live on the streets in Mumbai, India. Their lives were once in danger because of starvation, disease and out-of-control breeding. Today their situation has dramatically improved with the help of mandated sterilization laws and the work of a determined animal activist group. However, just when life was beginning to look brighter for these canines a new danger to their existence has emerged in the form of human prejudice. Here is their story.The large building in Deonar, a suburb of Mumbai was built in 2000 as a “killing center” for the homeless dogs that live on the streets. Local government officials (BMC) had gone to the Bombay High Court to obtain an order that allowed the mass killing of these stray dogs. In preparation for an easy win in court, the BMC built the new facility ahead of time.But in a surprise twist of fate, the High Court turned down the city’s plan and instead gave the center to an animal rights organization called IDA India with the directive to begin a comprehensive spay and neuter program.Sudnya Patkar and Gauri Keskar, who started the group, were thrilled with the news. They acquired new veterinarians and volunteers and moved into the building. Their grassroots organization, which had been using a borrowed garage for treating and sterilizing homeless dogs, grew from helping 20 a month in 2000 to currently spaying and neutering 800 canines each month.As the organization grew, they became sensitive to the neglected conditions of other animals so they added a second clinic, 2 mobile veterinary units and 3 ambulances for large animals. They extended their services to homeless cats and working animals such as horses and donkeys.IDA India is proud of their accomplishments and their visibility in Mumbai. But their success is creating an unforeseen problem and danger for the street dogs.The problem is where to keep the dogs after they are “fixed.”In the past when there were too many street dogs, they were shot or poisoned. Now the dogs are protected by the Animal Birth Control program (ABC) which is similar to a Trap Neuter and Release effort. Street dogs are released back into neighborhoods after they receive vaccinations and are sterilized. A human guardian provides them with food, water and additional veterinary care as needed.On paper, the ABC program appears to be a reasonable solution for the large number of homeless dogs in the city. There is no sanctuary big enough to house them and they are accustomed to living on the streets. But some residents think of the dogs as a threat and are trying to get rid of them.A story in a local newspaper summarizes, “Frustrated residents have been bulldozed into accepting a dog-loving contention of live and let live, even as the locals fear that canines may attack them.”The story talks about a volunteer who feeds the dogs, “She comes with two plastic bags full of chicken bones for the dogs. Walking on our road has become risky as dogs have started pouncing and following us if they spot us carrying plastic or other bags of food items.”The President of IDA India, Fizzah Shah fought back with this open letter to the newspaper.She said, …“All living beings need food and water for survival and since Mumbai High Court has given the judgment to sterilize the stray dogs and allow them to live on the street it's but obvious they need the means of survival that is at least food once in a day. It is inhumane to starve the animals which can result in aggressiveness, sickness and unnecessary painful death. These dogs which are fed by Suman are old dogs absolutely tame and human friendly. She is feeding them since many years and has not witness a single case of violence or aggressiveness of dogs. Also, she is not littering on the road so why should the BMC take any objection? If a handful of animal haters want to stop the work of humanity and compassion for the mute animals, it cannot be justified.”However even with this new controversy, IDA India plans to grow their successful spay/neuter program in other communities. In fact there is a waiting list of small towns that want them to organize clinics in their area.It takes time and patience to change the way an entire culture thinks about defenseless animals and the dedicated volunteers of IDA India are ready for the challenge.