Caught between crackers & crevices

Caught between crackers & crevices

THE WEEK BUREAU Last year, during Tihar, in a desolate alley at Lagankhel, three dogs were found dead in a ditch the morning after Laxmi Puja, the third day of the festivities. The dogs that were found huddled together had crawled into the drainage ditch when the neighborhood kids started lighting firecrackers. “We could hear dogs whining and howling for the first few minutes after which they fell silent,” says Ram Dahal, a local who, along with his friends, had discovered the lifeless animals when he was out for his daily walk early in the morning. The local vet confirmed that these dogs had suffered from heart attacks due to the deafening noise of firecrackers. The Week Dogs are scared by loud noises, and Tihar is a time when all hell breaks loose for these innocent beings. With firecrackers being an important part of the festivities, it is difficult to keep noise to a minimum in order not to scare the dogs who invariably reside in the nooks and corners of every alley of every neighborhood. Another sad truth is that, that amidst all the celebrations and festive atmosphere, nobody gives a second thought to these helpless animals. “The vet told us that dogs crawl into tight spaces when they are scared and many have heart attacks,” says Dahal, adding many dogs are left injured and disturbed after Tihar. Exposure to firecrackers can also lead to long-term fear of noises in general, leading to distressed dogs roaming the streets all year round, which is dangerous for the residents of the particular neighborhood as well. Around 25,000 stray dogs live in the Kathmandu Valley. Most urban stray dogs are discarded pets which have become sick, pregnant or developed aggressive behavior, or the offspring of such animals. With nowhere to go, these dogs spend the rest of their lives out on the streets without shelter, food and human touch. On top of that, the festivities are strenuous times for them. Not only are they subjected to loud noise that scares them to the point of suffering from heart attacks in extreme cases but some are even tortured in what is probably the most demented idea of having “fun.” Anupa Sharma, a resident of Kamal Pokhari, confesses to having seen, time and again, street dogs being abused and harassed during Tihar. Instances of dogs being wounded because of crackers tied and set alight at the end of their tails surface quite frequently during this time of the year. Also, dogs are sometimes given crackers as toys which are burnt while they play with it. Physical injuries and mental traumas as a result of fright are inevitable. “I’ve seen many dogs in my neighborhood being mistreated during Tihar,” says Sharma, adding that though she and her friends have rescued a couple of dogs when they have caught someone in the act of abusing them, a few individuals’ efforts alone are not enough. The concerns seem to be valid enough, given that the stray dog population is steadily rising in the Kathmandu Valley. There needs to be a humane, efficient and long-term solution, in the absence of which the conditions can never be effectively managed. Man’s best friend is treated worse than its worst enemy, albeit unknowingly in many cases. Kids who carry out such heinous activities confess to not being aware about the severe repercussions. Also many people are silent witnesses to such incidents and choose not to say or do anything to correct the wrong. Sakshyam Ghimire, a resident of Lainchaur, who has adopted three homeless strays in the past five years, says that it was because he could not watch innocent animals being mistreated that he picked them off the streets and brought them home. “I understand that not everybody can adopt strays but everybody can speak up and stop when they see animals being harassed, especially during Tihar,” says Ghimire, adding that the things they do to dogs in the name is fun is just plain atrocious and needs to be condemned by anyone who sees it. The second day of Tihar and that too for a few hours is perhaps the only time when dogs, even strays, are treated well. The rest of the festival is not as merry. Though the government has put a ban on firecrackers, as all laws go, it has not been implemented well, and it is the dogs who continue to bear the brunt of it all. In such a scenario, it falls on every individual to come out and do their part and come to the aid of these helpless animals. What veterinarians say Dr Indra Narayan Ray, a veterinarian, says that loud noise is often the instigating factor behind the psychological stress and even heart attacks in dogs. He says that fireworks during Tihar pose a serious threat to street dogs more than those who have homes because these animals have nowhere to take shelter and hence nowhere to hide. He cites not enough awareness among people and lack of empathy towards animals as major causes behind the abuse of street dogs, especially during the festivities. “Many kids even tie firecrackers to a dog’s tail and watch as it jumps around in fright,” says Dr Ray, adding that this kind of behavior should be stopped and for that there has to be awareness. If such activities can be controlled through monitoring by the police, then it’s even better, adds Dr Ray. He mentions that though the government has imposed a ban on fireworks, it’s not being implemented and people can still be seen lighting crackers on the streets. However, according to Dr Ray, there are some basic things every person can do to ensure animal safety during Tihar. “If you see anyone abusing animals with crackers, then speak out against it and make them stop,” he says, requesting people to show some consideration for the animals in their neighborhood. Another heartless thing people tend to do during Tihar is give the strays a cracker and set it alight while they play with it. “In such cases, the dogs might lose their hearing or suffer from serious wounds. In extreme cases, they might even have heart attacks,” says Dr Ray, explaining that kids tend to do it for fun without giving a thought to the dogs, and it falls on people who see such activities being carried out to correct the ill behavior and rescue the animals from the brutality. If you can provide shelter to a few strays in your area during Tihar, there’s nothing like it but if not, then being considerate is of paramount importance. If you are lighting crackers on the streets or close to the road, make sure there aren’t any dogs nearby. Also, if you can keep crackers to a minimum and use only those that emit less noise, you’ll be doing a huge favor to the voiceless animals. Taking care of your pampered pooch Tips from pet owners  I have two dogs. One is two years old and the other is eight. Tihar used to be terrible times for them. The sound of the firecrackers used to terrify them and it used to be a struggle to soothe them. However, I find that keeping my dog inside helps. I usually cover them with warm blankets and make sure they aren’t left alone. Ruchi KC, 25, Lagankhel There’s a simple way to keep your pet safe and relaxed during Tihar. Try to distract your dog. Give it a new toy or simply play with it as evening falls and it’s time for your neighborhood to drown in the sound of crackers. I have found this simple method to be extremely effective in keeping my pet – a three year old pug – happy and calm during these supposedly testy times. Jiwan Sharma, 31, Teku Dogs get scared easily by loud noises, and needless to say, Tihar can prove to be a difficult time. The best way to deal with this phobia of your pets is to make them accustomed to loud noises over a period of time. Playing loud music or making a tape of firecrackers and playing it in low volume and gradually increasing the level can help them get used to it over time. Sameer Pokhrel, 35, Maharajgunj I have four dogs at home and Tihar used to be a crazy time. Through hits and misses, I’ve come up with the easiest way to keep my dogs from going berserk when firecrackers go off. Give your dogs some warm milk after dinner and that will sufficiently calm them down. Also, it’s wise to keep a packet of biscuits or other treats with you and let them nibble on some during the course of the night.