Mohammad Nodargah, a social activist from Tabriz who graduated in hygiene stated that dogs and cats are among the animals that depend on humans to meet their daily needs. However, we often witness them being poisoned, tortured, and mistreated by some people, or even shot at times. But is it their fault for simply existing?
First, it should be noted that we ourselves are the reason behind the large number of dogs present. In recent years, influenced by the lifestyle of Western societies shown in the media, and without considering the costs, responsibilities, and challenges of keeping pets, we have created an increasing demand in the pet market.
As a result, in the second stage, official and unofficial dog breeding centers have begun producing more puppies than the market demand. Consequently, when these animals are left unsold and the centers cannot care for them long-term, they resort to abandoning them on the outskirts of cities.
In the third stage, dog owners, after their initial excitement wears off and they face the high costs and responsibilities of pet ownership, first attempt to sell their dogs. When that fails, they try to give them away, and if that too fails, they resort to abandoning the poor animal at night in remote areas of the city. The worst offenders are those who neglect to spay or neuter their pets before abandonment.
But how can this public health and psychological issue be resolved?
Some might suggest the first and easiest solution is simply to kill these creatures of God. Others might think the problem could be solved by capturing the animals and sending them to shelters. However, it should be noted that as long as the earlier steps in the cycle are incomplete before the animals reach shelters, this approach will be ineffective. A proper cycle for controlling this problem and creating a balance between the urban environment and these animals could include the following steps:
1. Combatting illegal dog breeding centers.
2. Only allowing the purchase of dogs for individuals who, after financial assessments, are deemed capable of caring for the pet, with a signed commitment not to abandon the animal in the city.
3. Mandatory microchipping of dogs sold by legal centers so that in case of abandonment, the owner can be fined heavily.
4. Allowing the legal sale of so-called useful dogs from supportive shelters at lower prices than the market, to reduce excessive breeding in the pet market.
5. Close supervision by municipalities to ensure the proper collection, spaying/neutering, and deworming of stray dogs, and preventing the practice of releasing them just a few kilometers outside the city by certain officials, which occasionally happens.
6. Using veterinary expertise in animal behavior through mass media to educate people on proper behavior towards animals, which will reduce animal attacks on humans.
7. Installing dog-repelling devices in neighborhoods by the municipality (these devices emit frequencies that disturb dogs and drive them away from the area).
8. Public education through media on actions to reduce the presence of stray dogs in the city.
