Stray Dogs by Cassandra Ramsey

            They contain a beating heart and yearn for love, just like us, yet they are left to roam the streets alone and malnutrition in terrible living conditions. Stray dogs populate the urban areas in need of shelter and affection. These animals come from abusive owners, poverty ridden families, and dog breeding among the homeless ones. Sometimes, with such trauma, canines can become rabid and attack innocent people who wander within their residing boundaries.

 

Rescue teams and shelters try to halt the increasing numbers of stray dogs by being able to peacefully capture these dogs and take them in to replenish their health; but yet, they still need a place to call home with a devoted owner. It is up to the people to open their hearts to a needy animal, if only one, just to stop this dreadful epidemic that occurs in every city.

            Canines have been around for generations, just like humans have…And when our population increases, so does theirs. Stray dogs have been the byproduct of a city’s poverty ever since the expansion of urbanization.

With the development of larger living areas, such as cities, and more people owning animals, dogs were able to breed further to keep up with the demands. But after households fell into a crippling downfall in economic status, they would abandon their companions and leave them to the streets to survive on their own. Once more and more canines were thrown to the streets, due to the lack of financial requirements from their owners, stray dogs would then begin to mate without limitations; causing the population of homeless dogs to increase tremendously.

Over time, these dogs have been left in mud and rain, some subjected to domestic abuse, causing them to become violent towards strangers; others so starved and unloved that they yearn for every passerby’s affection. These dogs had shown “that it was pretty clear they had once been attached to a loving person or had lived in a loving household. Why had these dogs ended up abandoned” (King)?

            When a person thinks of a “stray dog” the first thing that comes to mind is that they are ferocious animals that will attack people on the streets. "That's the myth. If the dogs are feral, they don't want nothing to do with humans. They won't attack you unless you get in their space. But 80 to 90 percent of the dogs out here on the street came from homes” (Carlisle; Binelli, Rolling Stone). So when it comes to their impact on cities, it’s that they are living, breathing beings that have nowhere to go due to their mass population and lack of human finances for their care; not that they are extremely violent and harmful. Most homeless dogs long for saviors who will swoop in to save them. They want to be rescued. But what can we do?

“First of all, short of stealing them, you can't make people love their dogs, or bring them in the house. And even if we could, where would we put them? It's an epidemic! You'll see 10 dogs like this every day” (Shance; Binelli, Rolling Stone). Yes, there are inner circles of people who would love to help these animals in their communities, but are not able to make that huge of an impact due to such a small grouping of people aiding in the epidemic decrease within the area. Therefore, they are left on the streets to falsely terrorize citizens or are picked up by animal control and euthanized. But, where does it begin?

            From personal experiences, our family knows how awful the epidemic of stray dogs can be. We house three to five dogs at a time that have all come from the animal pound or abusive owners and give them a very content and spoiled life. They usually are elder dogs who have been neglected from adoption due to their age and physical state. Nonetheless, the Ramsey household strives to make an impact in the epidemic no matter whether or not our actions may be small. What really matters is that we are making a difference in at least one animal’s life.

We love all three of our lazy dachshunds, two of them previously stray brothers, and the prior breeds before them. Many stray dogs we have found on the streets and adopted into our home were given to relatives and friends or to a loving home of a dog lover. And we also encourage others to adopt from the animal control centers to give a mistreated canine another chance for a blissful life with a new owner that will love them fully as they deserve.

            Although there are plenty of local stray dogs in League City, this is an epidemic for a reason. In Detroit “the number of strays in the city [range] at anywhere between 20,000 and 50,000. The latter number, which would mean 350 strays per square mile” (Binelli). The reason behind this is that Detroit happens to be one of the poorest major cities in the United States, causing owners to abandon their animals when they reach the peak of poverty or relocate to a different area. Rolling Stone writer states that:

Part of the reason the dogs have such free rein is that so many humans have left. In the last census count, Detroit's population had plummeted to just over 700,000, down from nearly a million a decade earlier. People are leaving because there are no jobs, and the school system is a mess, and police take a half-hour to show up when your house is shot up with an AK-47. (1)

On top of that, what is also awful about this city’s inner workings is that “local shelters have a euthanization rate of 70 percent, so abandoning the dogs to fend for themselves might not even be, in some instances, the least humane of options” (1). So now with thousands of canines running loose, rather than with their owners or caught by animal control, they roam the streets of Detroit breeding in a frenzy with a high mortality rate due to appalling living conditions and malnutrition. But, this is not the only place that has it depraved.

“The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there are 200 million stray dogs worldwide” (Baetu). In Romania, “according to the city government, a staggering 64,000 feral dogs live on Bucharest’s streets, giving the metro area, population 2.3 million, more than twice as many street dogs per capita as Detroit” (O’Sullivan). Though compared to the United States, stray dogs roam freely for a different motive:

The reasons for this glut are connected both to Romania’s former communist government and to the chaos caused by its removal. In the early 1980s, Nicolae Ceaușescu caused havoc in Bucharest when he bulldozed a large chunk of the city center in order to rebuild it along more monumental lines. As well as destroying some of the city’s most beautiful areas, this move forced 40,000 residents to be rehoused elsewhere. Many of these people moved to modern developments on the outskirts that did not allow pets, causing a flood of dogs onto the streets. With Ceaușescu’s grand plan slow to shape, the half-built shells of this wrecked area gave feral dogs a place to thrive. (1)

With Bucharest’s large population of canines, of course the government tried to limit their reproduction. Animal welfare bodies have attempted neutering large masses of these animal, but unfortunately this act takes a great chunk of money out of funds; especially since a female dog can produce up to eight puppies upon a single birth. “As experience in Detroit shows, however, killing large numbers of dogs is expensive and complicated even if you disregard the suffering such a move would cause” (1). So, Bucharest’s attempts to rid the stray dog epidemic has seemed rather futile, leaving plenty of them to still roam the streets, hungry and love deprived, to this day.

Even with such a grim situation produced from the stray dog epidemic, there is still a glimmering hope within this tragedy. The simplest of proposed solutions is even comprehensible by a toddler when they say, “Mommy, let’s get a doggie.” By opening your heart to the care of an animal, you are fighting back against this devastating epidemic.

            Every day citizens can make an impact on a canine’s life through rescue or adoption; even if it’s a temporary home experience. Randy Grim founded the non-profit organization, Stray Rescue, in 1998 that shelters stray dogs in the St. Louis area. “Randy opened his door, rescued as many dogs as he could and started taking them into his home – nursing them back to health and giving them to any friend or family member who would agree to take them” (Grim). “On March 1, 5 people went to St. Landry Parish in Louisiana to rescue 76 dogs that were scheduled to be euthanized.  Louisiana has been the victim to mass flooding and tornados, leaving so many dogs displaced and with no hope” (1). This is just one of the rescues Grim has done in his community. Another being when:

A call came in that a little dog had experienced unknown trauma. That was enough information for us, and we hopped in the car. Little did we know, we would come across such a sad situation. A little Chihuahua laid on the ground with his jaw slack. He had other wounds on his face. He was wide-eyed and frightened. We scooped him up in our arms and rushed him to our trauma center. We asked for prayers on social media. As soon as our veterinarians saw him, they determined he had a broken jaw. On both the left side and the right side. He was in terrible pain. At Stray Rescue, we give every dog a fighting chance, and we took him to our partners at VSS where he had surgery. We were so anxious to pick this little guy up a few days later. He has to wear an external fixator for 8-9 weeks, along with a cone. He is a fighter. Small, but mighty. (1)

This man makes a positive impact in this epidemic, no matter how small his efforts may seem, it’s still effecting several dog’s life. It’s giving them another chance at a content life. But, this is not the only way to fight back against abandoned and abused dogs.

            Even if people cannot open their home to several canines or dedicate their lives to rescuing them off of the streets and nurturing them back to health, people can still make a difference in the epidemic. Adoption centers or animal pounds are scattered across thousands of cities and house several dogs that will eventually be euthanized due to their age or length of time spent in the facility.

Instead of letting the dogs wither away, miserable and isolated, a single person can adopt a dog in any variant of size to accompany their home or living arrangements. By just bringing one animal into the love and warmth of someone’s life and home, they are aiding the resistance in the stray dog epidemic.

            These acts of kindness and awareness to the situation are appreciated and cherished by animal lovers, rescuers, and even pounds that imprison the abandoned dogs. Although it does help to the ratio of stray canines, adoption and rescuing will most definitely not halt the worldwide epidemic.

            Another solution brought to attention is the act of euthanizing mass populations of dogs. “Countries such as Ukraine, Sri Lanka and Mexico have in the past, taken reduction measures to control their large populations of stray dogs” (Baetu). Among those countries, others have trialed in the decision to euthanize canines as well.

During a campaign to end tapeworm infestations, Cyprus culled its stray dog population from 46,000 to 6,000, according to WHO (The World Health Organization). Following a rabies outbreak in 2008, Bali, Indonesia, reduced its stray dog population by 100,000. Even now, Bali has around 500,000 strays. In the state of Michigan, a stray dog captured by animal control is held for four business days, or longer if the dog has ID. At the end of the holding period, the dog is assessed for adoption and is either placed in an adoption program, or euthanized. (1)

These actions have tremendously decreased the population of stray dogs and could seem to work efficiently after a long process of time and economic funding. But, this solution to our epidemic will not be influenced in our modern world.

            Technically, euthanizing mass populations of dogs over a period of time would rid our streets of stray canines, but the reason this would not work would be due to the confliction of social morality; deeming the act as a cruelty. “At a rally in Bucharest, some animal rights activist brought their own dogs to protest what's happening to strays” (1). People will not allow the government to take full action in euthanizing dogs. But to fix this issue on both sides of the spectrum, “people need to put less effort into protesting about euthanizing dogs and put their resources to promote responsible pet ownership, spaying and neutering of dogs” (1). If everyone who took on the responsibility of taking care of the pet they were able to decide on obtaining, then there would not need to be efforts in euthanizing dogs. Though, since there are abusive and insensible people who are inhumane towards their pets, the government cannot shy away from an effort that would rid us of an epidemic – even if it conflicts with social morality.

            Albert Camus’ beliefs on absurdity definitely go hand in hand with epidemics. Camus would consider the stray dog epidemic absurdity as an essential feature of modern society. He believed that there was always absurd aspects in the world and that it was just a fragment of our daily lives. Therefore, fundamentally, there is no way to rid ourselves of such an attribute. This was shown clearly through the proposed solutions that would not end up solving the epidemic without some sort of backfire.

            With the outcomes now presented, Camus would be highly enlightened by the fact that neither choice fully solves the case without conflicting morality or realistic boundaries. “According to Camus, mankind was perpetually attempting to rationalize an irrational universe” (Kershaw). Absurdity in life is inevitable and that is exactly what Camus believed about the world. His theory was on the dot in retrospect to the stray dog epidemic and probably various others. Nonetheless, we are all humans who strive to resolve the impossible.

            Millions of abandoned and abused dogs roam our cities worldwide; seeking comfort and love, but above all, a place to call home and an owner who treats them kindly. Irresponsible people who have discarded their canine friends like garbage and left them to rot only increase the population of these strays that can become harmful to citizens.

We must now open our hearts to these dejected animals and give them a new home – a new life; because they deserve such. Even small assistance from adoption and rescue efforts make an impact in the epidemic.

We are the ones who have abandoned our dogs. We are the ones who have caused them trauma, making handfuls of them rabid. And we are the ones who have ceased to neuter them properly, allowing them to procreate quickly and without boundaries. We need to take responsibility for our past actions and give these animals the care that they desire. Affection.

“A dog is the only creature on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” –Josh Billings

Citations

            Baetu, Teona. "Soaring Stray Dog Numbers Spur State Euthanasia Plans." CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 08 Oct. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/stray-dog-numbers-spur-state-euthanasia-plans-1.1928448>.

            Brennan, Heather. "Stray Dogs Becoming Epidemic in Mexico City." All Pet News. All Pet News, 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <http://allpetnews.com/stray-dogs-becoming-epidemic-in-mexico-city>.

Binelli, Mark. "City of Strays: Detroit's Epidemic of 50,000 Abandoned Dogs." Rolling Stone. Rolling Stone, 20 Mar. 2012. Web. 13 Mar. 2017. <http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/city-of-strays-detroits-epidemic-of-50-000-wild-dogs-20120320>.

Collins, Courtney. "Dallas' Stray Dog Problem Gets Worse After Woman's Death." NPR. NPR, 28 May 2016. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <http://www.npr.org/2016/05/28/479824628/dallas-stray-dog-problem-gets-worse-after-woman-s-death>.

Grim, Randy. "About Randy Grim." Stray Rescue of St. Louis. Stray Rescue of St. Louis, n.d. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <https://www.strayrescue.org/about-randy-grim>.

Kershaw, Tom. "Albert Camus’ Religion and Political Views." The Hollowverse. The Hollowverse, 22 June 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <http://hollowverse.com/albert-camus/>.

King, Barbara J. "Tropical Beach Is No Paradise For Stray Dogs." NPR. NPR, 06 July 2014. Web. 13 Mar. 2017. <http://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2014/07/06/328209694/tropical-beach-is-no-paradise-for-stray-dogs>.

NPR. "Detroit's Stray Dog Epidemic." Nashville. CCIN Inc, 23 Aug. 2013. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. <https://www.nashville.com/news/national/detroits-stray-dog-epidemic>.

O'Sullivan, Feargus. "How Bucharest Ended Up With One of the World's Worst Stray Dog Problems." CityLab. The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2014. Web. 13 Mar. 2017. <http://www.citylab.com/politics/2013/09/how-bucharest-ended-one-worlds-worst-stray-dog-problems/6843/>.