Reasons, why I still hate dogs!

But I really, really want to hate dogs for the main cause of Rabies they are!

Well, smarty pants, ever heard of vaccination? Get your society dogs vaccinated against stray dogs. Its free and takes only one or two phone calls to local N.G.O. or municipal corporations. Rabies is caused by saliva of ‘infected dogs’. However, since it is not possible to tell from infected dogs to normal ones except for those who are severely infected. Also the main cause of spread in rabies within dogs is because of the fights between dogs. When an infected dog bites another during fights, the other dog becomes infected with rabies too. Why do fights happen?

There are mainly two reasons:

• When a dog relocated from one location to another: This reason is due to 99% fault of humans. Those who don’t want to kill dogs, take them and put them in another territory. In other territory the dog becomes hostile and other dog of that territory attack. This results in fight which leads to bites and thus spreading of rabies. So, never encourage relocation of dogs. It is worse than killing of dog.
• Due to mating season: Now this is law of nature, where in a pack of animal there is a leader who always gets food and the lady FIRST! But sometimes there are other wannabe doggies who want to challenge the bozo and thus end up fighting and thus spread rabies between themselves. There are two ways to prevent them: (a) Either make sure your and the surround colony dogs are totally and 100% vaccinated, which is highly unlikely to ensure. (b) Or, sterilize as well as vaccinated your colony dogs. The sterilization technique we follow these days still makes the bitch go in heat. But, if the male doggies won’t have balls, they eventually won’t fight. Also you can Anti Rabies vaccinate yourself like you did for polio. Its just another prick on your skin for survival. 

Turn around, let me mark my territory.

      Now, what you need to know next is about the territory of dogs. Just like there are countries, states, cities, sectors, colonies and at last house? Wtf? Well no, when it comes to dogs, its either this or that territory. The area of territory depends on the size of pack and it is relative to the neighboring packs too. So suppose in a pack there are 20 dogs and they share food of 2 colonies, that means there is ample food for 20 dogs, 21^st dog won’t be allowed in that territory. If he enters, or forced to enter, he will be dealt like a terrorist. But if a dog dies in that territory, this creates a vacuum in that area for 1 dog. In simple language, there is food for another dog and he may come in. But that vacuum remains for a week or ten days. Then and then only another dog is allowed to share the food. They mark their territory with their urine. Not with barbed wires like us. Cool and cost effective, right? So hate them for peeing on your tire or your compound wall, but they are actually bordering it and protecting that area so that other dogs won’t enter without permission.

Coming over to a sensitive topic, Religion. I would like to start with Islam, since dogs are hated most in Islam. It is said that the angels(farishtey) don’t enter the house where dogs are. It is also said that dogs like pigs are dirty creatures. I have got some news for you:

• It is not haraam (unethical or illegal) to keep a dog in your house. It is also not haraam to touch the dog or if the dog licks you or your clothing or any articles. If the dog has licked you or your articles you can wash them seven times and you will be pure again.

• It is mandatory, to those who own a dog for work, farming, security or as pets to provide them with proper food and shelter by all means. It is haraam to keep the dog caged/tied up, thus forfeiting his natural way of living. It is also haraam to expose him to fireworks or any such environments which may cause harm or anxiety to the dog. In case, you’re leaving house for short period, such as vacation, the dog’s care taking has to be arranged.

• It is also haraam to engage dog in blood sport such as dog fighting.

• No animal has been cursed in any way. Animals are referred to in many instances in the Qu’ran. In Surah Kahf, mention is made of the companions of the Cave and their dog. (S18: 18-22) 

• "While a man was walking he felt thirsty and went down a well, and drank water from it. On coming out of it, he saw a dog panting and eating mud because of excessive thirst. The man said, 'This (dog) is suffering from the same problem as that of mine.' So, he (went down the well), filled his shoe with water, caught hold of it with his teeth and climbed up and watered the dog. Allah thanked him for his (good) deed and forgave him. The people asked ``O Allah'! Is there a reward for us in serving (the) animals? He replied: ``Yes, there is a reward for serving any animate (living being). 

• A dog, as every other living [being] on this earth, is a part of Allah's creation. We, as Muslims, are custodians of this beautiful planet. A dog, if in our possession, as with everything else we claim to own, belongs ultimately to Allah (swt). We will be accountable for how we look after our animals and what we use them for, to Almighty Allah (swt). All of creation is Muslim, submitting to the will of Allah (swt), only man and jinn are granted a freedom of choice. So yes, even animals are Muslim.

Moving towards Hinduism. Where there are million gods worshipped on daily basis. How could you forget the teaching of Lord Krishna, who told us to be kind towards all animals, wild and domestic? Lord Bhairava who had a black dog as his vaahan (vehicle). Most of you don’t know that dogs are considered guards of gates between heaven and hell in many Hindu scriptures. 

In Christianity, there are so many instances in bible where dogs are mentioned. A dog is mentioned in the deuterocanonical Book of Tobit, faithfully accompanying Tobias, Tobit's son and the angel Raphael on their journeys.

Jesus told the story of the poor man Lazarus, whose sores were licked by street dogs. This has traditionally been seen as showing Lazarus's wretched situation.

The Catholic Church recognizes Saint Roch (also called Saint Rocco), who lived in the early 14th century in France, as the patron saint of dogs. It is said that he caught the plague while doing charitable work and went into the forest, expecting to die. There he was befriended by a dog which licked his sores and brought him food, and he was able to recover. The feast day of Saint Roch, August 16, is celebrated in Bolivia as the "birthday of all dogs."

I rest my case.

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Reasons, Why I hate dogs!

Hate is such a strong word. But people use it as often as they can – “I hate cabbage!” “I hate to exercise!” “I hate when my Mom re arranges my stuff!” The reason why people use the word ‘hate’ so much is because they use the word ‘love’ more than it should be. In fact, from what I felt, the word ‘like’ would have been extinct if not for Facebook.

So when people often say “I hate dogs!” What does that actually mean?  You have to be in their shoes to answer that question. So, let’s say “I hate dogs!” “Why?”

They bark, they bite, they chase your automobile at night, they litter in your residential areas and they … they … they are just worst creatures on earth!! That’s it.

In India, they hate dogs because they howl. Because if a dog howls, a person nearby dies. Wow doggies! Some real superpower you got there in your throat. Well, howling (misunderstood as crying) is a like a doggy cell phone or radio. It is a medium of long range communication for them. Wolves do it too! They do it either to warn their pack about some stranger, they do it to call their pack for hunting, they can also howl if they get separated by their pack or owners. They express this separation anxiety through howling.

Died due to dog howling!

Place where there are stray dogs, it is healthy for us to keep them there. They work as scavengers (better than municipality actually) and eat up garbage, which can cause serious health issues if they get rotten. They also keep the rat population under control. If you remove strays from such areas and not clean the place efficiently, rat population increases. Behind rats come snakes. Now do you prefer to have stray snakes? Or stray dogs? Your choice.

Since the beginning of the time, i.e. when your ancestors ruled the place, they kept dogs as companions or for security from wild animals. Dogs are used to be around human beings since the beginning of time. And for some reasons they love company of humans more than their own kind. In return they provide you with safety and eliminate a lot of diseases with their scavenging. So if a dog bites you, keep in mind it is protecting something/itself. Or you were doing something you weren’t supposed to be doing. Like walking like a drunkard. Making more than enough sound with the sole of your shoes, or maybe he just didn’t like your stupid face (in that case it is OK to hate him, because he hates you too).

There are few things to keep in mind when you are approaching or going through an unknown dog’s territory.

For more information watch this amazing video I made for VSPCA and ABC India.

•  Do not look the dog in the eye. Its like challenge to fight for them.
•  If the dog is lying/resting don’t walk with loud shoes or do not try to jump over him or do not try to throw stones at him. Remember when your mom wakes you up in the morning, how grumpy you are? Yea, so don’t do that.
• If you know there is a pregnant or mother dog nearby. Do not go through that area. I know puppies are cute and irresistible but do not go try to cuddle with them.  Dog mommies are very overprotective. Also warn the children not to do so.
• Throwing stones at dogs is easy. Just till you find a dog who is ‘having his day’. I don’t even want to describe your condition after the dog will be done with u. Just remember dog’s head is aligned straight to your crotch and buttocks.
• Like you are very protective about your underwear, a dog is protective of its tail. So don’t pull or touch it.
• Do not drive past dogs with speed or they will chase you. Remember? When that guy cut through your motorbike on the highway with full speed, almost startled you. I am sure your mouth didn’t shower flower after he did that. And if you do, and the dog chases your bike/car, don’t hate the dog.

Now, play with me!

Now, I explained these to my neighbor and his reply was “Why should I take so much pain, I would rather use a stick instead.” The reason why most dogs bite are not because of aggression but due to fear, or to protect themselves. It means they surely don’t trust you and have developed a gene inside which fears you when you approach them in wrong manner or with wrong body language. Dog lovers get bitten too. Dogs aren’t racists. So your act of hitting dog is passed on to biting someone else. Easiest way to befriend a dog is to feed him. No don’t pamper him if you don’t want to. Just drop a few bread crumbs near your house and let the dog see that you dropped them. Repeat this process for a few days. Viola! The dog trusts you and will never harm you.

I went to attend a very strange complaint but very legitimate one. An extreme playful dog was jumping on people (to play with them) but in process was scaring shit out of the strangers. So they ‘hated’ the dog for being too friendly. So if you’re feeding a dog, keep distance. Jumping or putting his paws on you might be cute for you but not for others. And the dog automatically assumes, what he can do to you, he can do to others too.

“Why do you feed dogs? I hate when you feed them near our house, they come every day and litter here and there. They are so dirty and nasty creatures. If you want them, keep them in your house.” Your neighbor must have complained. In such cases, give him a big smile and tell him:

• First of all it is illegal to threaten, abuse or harass dog feeders/care takers under Section 506 Indian penal court act. The court has termed feeding of animals as social service and any person obstructing this shall be prosecuted and the police shall be deemed to protect such social activists.
• Under Section 428/429 Indian penal court act it is illegal to harm, hurt, poison, hit, harass or kill any animal.
• It is illegal to relocate dogs from their original territory under AWBI dog rules 2001.
• One pair of rat can multiply up to 35,000. Remember the 1994 plague in Surat (Gujarat)? The main cause was due to rats! Rats dying and rotting in gutter.
• Most and foremost reason why the dogs must stay there is because not you, but they and their ancestors have been living and guarding these lands. Just because they have agreed to share their land with you shouldn’t make you such a butthole.

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