• Culling is not the answer

One of Sri Lanka’s most common sights, no matter where in the island you are, is that of the (mostly) friendly street pooch. The effects of Lankan stray dogs on their surroundings are many, from those who are afraid of them and their food and shelter needs, to overpopulation. 

As we step into 2024, The Sunday Morning Brunch decided to shine a light on stray dog population management and look at some crucial questions about the ideal situation envisioned by those dedicated to the cause. 

The overarching goal of many is to create improved lives for dogs, not only by preventing harmful short-term methods but also by advocating an end to inhumane methods like culling by way of adopting more humane solutions. It’s essential to refrain from viewing stray dogs solely as problem-causing agents in communities and to delve into the root causes of stray dog population.

In times of crisis or to prevent disease outbreaks, some governments resort to culling as a quick-fix solution. However, this approach is not only cruel but also ineffective in the long term. The act of culling, apart from being inhumane, often leads to a temporary reduction in numbers. Still, the population inevitably rebounds as the remaining dogs reproduce, perpetuating a cycle of repeated culling that is both unsustainable and counterproductive.

Speaking to experts and activists reveals a unanimous sentiment: a preference for humane and concrete solutions over quick but ineffective measures like culling. Not only is culling ethically problematic, it is also financially costly, requiring resources for trapping, handling, and disposing of animals. 

These resources could be more efficiently utilised in implementing sustainable and effective long-term methods for stray dog population management, such as vaccination and sterilisation programmes. Additionally, community-based education and awareness initiatives play a pivotal role in promoting responsible pet ownership and fostering safe interactions with stray dogs.

This multifaceted approach, advocated by experts and activists alike, aims to address the complexities of stray dog population management while ensuring the well-being of both animals and communities.

But what do we focus on? 

Animal welfare activists’ priorities for 2024

Sadhana Vikrantha of Animal Welfare Protection Association (AWPA) emphasised: “For me, it has to be sterilisation. It is the only humane way to control the population. Of course, everything is urgent; however, the issues that we need to address far outweigh the resources available. People can certainly feed the dogs and vaccinate them; they can continue to do the service, but the only future is to ensure that population growth is controlled. To do that, we have to invest in sterilisation. It is something many organisations are focusing on; however, it still is insufficient.”

Regarding the public’s perspective and actions, she stated: “There are a lot of good people in Sri Lanka – 95% are animal lovers who are willing to help – but there is this minority 5% who make everyone else look bad. I think all we can do is be kind. The kinder we are, the better, because kindness is infectious. If one person feeds a street dog, then others will follow because this is not a one-man show. The more you work at it, the closer we get to solving the issue and a lot of people understand this. It is just a very few who stand in their way.”

Tashiya Captain from Justice for Animals highlighted: “I would like to see more focus on spaying and neutering street pups and also vaccination efforts. I feel that there’s lots of focus on rescue and that is fantastic, but to end the cycle, what we need to do is spay and neuter these dogs. If you are a feeder, you know that it is simply impossible to keep pace with the growing population and we need to control the population.”

Captain also shared recent reports of a stray dog population of approximately 20 dogs in the recently-opened Port City, stating: “We don’t see this yet, but that number adds up to the overall number of street dogs. Creating shelters is wonderful, but you can’t take in all of them given the 1.5 million population of stray dogs. The main burning issue is this growing population. It is a big challenge, a huge problem, and even when we sterilise a certain portion, it feels like not even a drop has been covered. We can no longer forgo the investment in sterilisation as it is the long-term solution.”

Discussing the public’s perspective, she stated: “Of course, the public can feed these dogs. They can continue to take care of them. But a really good thing would be a collective effort. If you live on a lane and see a few dogs who frequent that area, then an example would be to get together, co-opt your neighbours, and find an organisation to come and spay/neuter those dogs. If you can collect the funds and provide it, then that would be a great help because resources, regardless of what people may think, are limited, especially when it comes to Sri Lankan animal welfare organisations. Individuals like myself take steps to collect funds and co-opt fundraising, and others can do the same.”

She emphasised on the misconception about organisations having unlimited resources, stating: “I get a lot of calls and the calls always start with ‘this is not my dog’ or ‘this is not my cat’ and organisations are seen as having unlimited funding resources, which is simply not the case. It is so expensive to spay/neuter; however, if you look at the prices of vaccinations and also think about feeding a growing population, this is simply the most humane long-term solution.”

Melissa Stephen of Dogtime emphasised: “The solution is to take the community you live in into consideration, take efforts to vaccinate, and most importantly, spay and neuter your street dogs. You can feed them and take care of them, but at some point, there needs to be a long-term solution and that is to spay and neuter. I think a community effort can do wonders for animal welfare.”

Addressing public perception, she pointed out: “There is a practice of looking down on the Ceylon street dog, if you will, and what I want everyone to notice is that these dogs are just as intelligent and just as worthy as your domesticated breeds. We must learn to give them a chance and people must educate themselves and others that we have to take care of them and not simply cast them aside.”

While prioritising spaying and neutering as the most humane and effective long-term solution for managing street dog populations, it is equally imperative to underscore the need for cultivating compassion and fostering harmonious coexistence.

Otara Gunewardene of Embark Foundation shared her message for 2024, emphasising on the connection between humane population control measures and the broader ethos of compassionate living. Gunewardene stressed that, beyond surgical interventions, communities needed to embrace empathy and harmonious interaction with street dogs.

Gunewardene’s holistic approach serves as a reminder that our commitment to animal welfare goes beyond numerical control. It requires cultivating a compassionate ethos in our shared living spaces. She stated: “The primary thing that we have to realise is that we must all learn to live in harmony.” Gunewardene emphasised on the need to change our ways and be more compassionate, recognising that a people-centric and selfish approach was not sustainable.

According to Gunewardene, there is much to gain by being in harmony with nature. She urged a commitment to protecting the environment and natural surroundings. Emphasising on the importance of going back to our roots, she stated: “To not care is to be cruel and we must be kinder.” She highlighted that progress demanded a more humane society, with health and prosperity dependent on our ability to harmonise with all elements of the earth, including plants, animals, and humans.