Street Dogs: A conflicting view about welfare concerns

In my travels throughout various developing countries, I’ve encountered many places where domestic animals live in semi-feral conditions.  This mostly pertains to dogs, but other domestic animals, such as swine and cattle, can also be seen.  To an outsider from a developed country, these street animals may indicate a big problem with animal control and raise concerns about neglect and cruelty; however, I’d like to share some observations that indicate it may not be as bad as an outsider may think.  I will also share information suggesting that developed countries (such as the U.S.) are not as advanced in animal welfare as many people may perceive them to be.

As a young veterinarian, I worked for a year in India to help a street animal rescue (Animal Aid Unlimited) in Udaipur.  This is a unique organization whose sole purpose is to provide shelter and veterinary care to street animals that are sick, injured, or otherwise not able to live on the street anymore.  It was during this time that I really gained an understanding of what it meant for these animals to live in the streets.  What I found was that it’s not nearly as bad as one may think.

One of the things I quickly came to understand while working in the shelter was that almost all of the animals had someone who cared for them back on the street.  Even though these animals lived completely independent lives on the street, there were people who lived or worked on that street that knew the dog or cow and would often feed them.  You could say that this was their adopted animal, but that would be an inaccurate portrayal of the relationship.  These animals had no masters.  It’s more like the animals were part of the community and there was a sense of responsibility and caring for them by many people in the neighborhood. 

Many people cared for street dogs like many people care about their pets in the U.S., but it would be difficult for a person from the U.S. to see this.  In the U.S., it is standard that our dogs would stay within a compound, have a shelter (often inside the house) and be fed, watered and groomed regularly.  It is also quite normal for us to pet, hug and kiss our dogs.  

This is not the case for the Indian street dog.  Indian street dogs will often get their food from scavenging.  Their water usually comes from a gutter or puddle.  In the vast majority of cases, they will never be allowed inside a compound; let alone the house.  However, people all over the neighborhood will make an effort to feed the dogs or give them milk.  They also care for the dog more than it would appear.  I know this, because I’ve seen numerous people weep over the death of one of their neighborhood dogs that they never once petted on the head or let inside their compound.   I’ve also seen many people go out of their way to care for a sick or injured dog or cow in their neighborhood.  There’s no doubt in my mind that people care for these animals just as much as people do back in the U.S.

The difference here is that upbringing and current culture tells us westerners that we must protect, feed and embrace our pet to show love and caring.  I say current culture, because you only have to back a few decades in the U.S. to find a very different view of dogs. 

India, in some ways, is a living example of how dogs were kept in American history.  It would be presumptuous of me to think that I could accurately portray the general population’s view of street dogs in India, but I’ll give my inferences anyway. 

Firstly, street dogs are a normal part of life for an Indian citizen.  They were there when they first opened their eyes and the street animals have long been accepted as a part of life.  A street dog is looked at as essentially a wild animal that doesn’t mind getting close to people.  They will usually be in the same general area or territory for their life.  They are often dirty and could sometimes be aggressive, so touching them is not desired.  They can also carry scary diseases (such as rabies) and will often have various amounts of fleas, ticks, mites or lice. 

I think this is probably where I’d lose most people, because they may feel that these animals are suffering with these burdens.  In some cases this may be true, but for many of these animals it is truly not that big of a burden.  It should be understood that parasites are actually a normal part of life for animals and people alike.  Many animals will tolerate a certain level of parasites and may even be quite adapted to live with them.  Yes, it may not be a pleasant feeling to occasionally feel a tick or flea bite, but these animals seem to mostly not be bothered by it.   

Street dog injured and bald from mange

 It should also be known that many people in these areas also experience parasites such as lice and worms, so it is not nearly as shocking to them as it would be for an average American. 

I can only defend the disease burdens so much though.  It is true that these street animals will suffer devastating outbreaks of vaccine preventable and treatable diseases that can kill up to 80% of a population.  I’ve witnessed canine distemper outbreaks that killed an unimaginable amount of dogs, mostly puppies. 

Disease is not the only danger of living on the street though.  With a completely lawless traffic system and congested streets there is bound to be a street animal hit by a car or motorbike on a daily basis.  At Animal Aid, these traffic injuries and fatalities were a common sight. 

However, the dogs that last through puppyhood have keen street smarts.  These dogs are very aware of traffic and the danger they pose.  They will mostly stay out of the street and cross it cautiously (you can even see them looking both ways before crossing).  Also, the seemingly chaotic drivers of India are actually much more cautious about avoiding animals in the street.  I can remember my first car ride from the airport in Udaipur where I saw all the traffic on a two-lane highway swerving around a cow laying in the middle of the street chewing its cud.  This was normal and quickly became a common sight for me.  When I learned how to navigate the streets in a motorbike, it became second nature to keep an eye out for random animals entering my path. 

While all the dangers of living on the street may seem to decrease the dog’s quality of life, you’d have to ignore the fact that this animal is free.  I will argue that this is extremely important for the psychological wellbeing of any animal (humans included).  And, I’ll also point out that the way we keep our dogs in the west denies them many of these freedoms.

This may take a sheltered westerner some time to accept, but the way we keep dogs is not natural.  I can’t begin to explain all the behavior issues we as veterinarians see as a result of a dog being confined all day without appropriate stimulation.  We only have to look at how much a dog frolics when it’s let loose in a dog park or some other open area to understand that their freedom is just as important to them as it is to us.  

Street dogs are not only free, but they have the opportunity to exhibit natural behaviors such as marking, nesting, forming packs and territories.  These dogs play, fight and mate similarly to how a wild canine would. 

Do we pity wild animals for having to endure nature?  I think most people would say they don’t, but would definitely not like to brave the wild themselves. 

I think this is where the true misunderstanding comes from.  Modern people are so far removed from nature that it’s impossible for us to imagine exposing ourselves or our anthropomorphized domestic animals to the harshness of reality.  However, we can’t seem to pull ourselves away from nature.  We hike, camp, fish, hunt and do other wild things that somehow make us feel more alive than we do sitting in the home or office. 

Now imagine that someone turned you loose to do all your outdoor recreation and you innately had no worries about your future, mortality and little understanding of all the dangers you face.  This is a simplified explanation of how a dog would feel.

It’s for these reasons that I’m convinced street dogs are actually happier than your average housedog. 

Does this mean that I simply ignore all the diseased, starving and abused animals that are seen in the streets of India?  No, I am not convinced that this is a necessary trade-off and I do think we need to be good stewards to all animals we share the planet with.  However, if you are under the impression that these problems are limited to the developing world, then you need to take a closer look back home.

A husky I rescued in El Paso, TX that was severely malnourished

After working and studying in universities, veterinary clinics and shelters for over 10 years in the U.S., I can comfortably say that cruelty and neglect happens at a similar rate that you would find in a place like India.  The big difference is that the average person would not see it as commonly in the U.S.  In India or other nations, it is all on display.    

The other thing that it is commonly ignored by westerners is that our conquest to clear the streets of strays has resulted in the euthanasia of millions of domestic animals per year; many of them being euthanized for the sole reason of not having a home.  Meanwhile, private and commercial breeding operations are making millions of dollars churning out more pets for, I’m sorry to say, people’s desire to satisfy their greed and vanity.  Now this may seem like a harsh criticism of our society, but it’s really difficult for me, as a shelter veterinarian, to ignore. 

Who is more to blame for animal neglect and cruelty?  A country that keeps their animals free and on the streets to mostly fend for themselves, or a country that confines their pets for amusement, whilst quietly culling the unwanted ones?

I can’t pretend to have the right answer here, but I think it’s worth pondering if you go to a place like India and think that the animals are worse-off than the ones back home. 

Me and a couple of the street dogs that lived outside my flat in Udaipur.