A Day in the Life of an Indian Street dog
Humanity’s best friend: the Dog, originated from an ancient species of wolf via a genetic ancestor they share with modern Wolves, between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago. Dogs, wolves, foxes and several other animals all belong to the same family of mammals known as Canids. Their evolution coincides and is likely caused by, their domestication by hunter-gatherer humans somewhere during the last Ice Age. It is speculated that this relationship arose due to mutual benefit for both humans as well as for the ancient wolf species. Humans were possibly grateful for dogs lending them protection from other wild animals and aiding them with their keen sense of smell in hunting prey for food. By joining a pack with us, Dogs in turn were assured a constant source of food, safety in numbers, warmth from fire as well as its various other uses, such as forwarding off predators. They benefited from our superior intelligence and our self-proclaimed position as the apex species of the ecosystem.
While the phenomenon of evolution would naturally take millions of years to transpire, in the case of dogs it was far from natural. The evolution of dogs is an almost single-handed feat of humanity through the process of selective breeding. Today, dogs are the most abundant carnivores on land and have developed an array of mechanisms to survive, cope with and benefit from living with us in our homes. This has resulted in a great affinity between both species and certain synchrony between our behavior and theirs. The diet of the Dog has completely evolved to accommodate foods rich in starch, something that distinguishes them from other Canids. Dogs and humans also began to develop a deep friendship, one that has lasted all these years and evolved in a variety of ways. Dogs have undergone behavioral evolution that has made their behavior more amicable to us, such as their heart-melting facial expression which was responsible for the coining of the phrase “puppy-dog eyes”.
Today, the Human-Canine bond is incredibly strong as they most importantly provide us with companionship. This is evident from scientific studies that have detected the release of Oxytocin, the hormone responsible for happiness, love, and bonding, in the bodies of both dogs and humans whenever we pet them or engage with them in play. Many of us have come to treat Dogs as part of our own family, and several studies prove that they are vital to our psychological well-being as a community. They reduce stress, alleviate anxiety and can even help children develop a sense of self, a strong sense of responsibility, the ability to empathize and the desire to care for and nurture themselves, and others. Besides a deep and loving bond, dogs today provide us with many favors such as herding cattle, pulling weights, or guarding our homes. They lend their assistance with their skillful olfaction and auditory senses as well as high intelligence in many ways, such as to the military and police force in maintaining global security as well as to people with physiological or neurological disabilities by delivering items or signaling seizures. Or animal-assisted therapy. This influence of dogs on human society has given them the amiable moniker of our Best Friend.
There had always existed a portion of dogs that grew up wild and never bonded with humans even in the past. Breeds of dogs known as landraces evolved just by living in close proximity to humans, unlike pure-bred dogs which were intentionally bred for specific purposes and were owned by humans. These breeds together form a population of free-ranging dogs that dwell independently in urban spaces: Street Dogs. Further unintentional “mixed breeds” formed over time due to cross-reproduction. This happens if a pet dog goes astray and procreates with a street dog, or is abandoned by its human owners. All of these breeds add to the urban population. Today, in modern cities these populations have been forced to adapt to living without humans in an environment that is increasingly shaped and controlled by us. Thus, street dogs, due to the sharp intelligence of their species, have further evolved behavioral mechanisms to navigate the urban landscape.
Due to needing to scavenge for food, dogs must compete with one another to secure food sources. Much like in the wild, street dogs are gregarious animals and form social hierarchies known as packs in order to survive better. Each pack marks its territory within the human settlement. This marking, however, does not apply to humans due to the fact that street dogs regard humans as a superior species and are cognizant of the fact that living in our presence gives them easier access to food. Disputes over territories often lead to “gang wars” where all members of a pack are signaled through howling, to defend the honor of the pack and protect their brothers and sisters.
The lives of street dogs are also constantly at risk from human activity. They are always in danger of running across a vehicle in traffic, resulting in accidents. Only those most adept at navigating traffic are able to survive. Over time, street dogs have observed and understood the pattern behind the flow of pedestrian traffic, such as seeing humans most often crossing at crosswalks, or waiting for a signal to turn red, and have mimicked these patterns in order to cross roads safely. In many countries, dogs have been observed to travel in metros and buses as well. Female dogs have a greater predicament. They need to find a suitable home that is sheltered from the dangers of urban life amongst the dust and rubble of cityscapes in order to give birth to their litter. They must learn to ensure their young are nourished, protect them from harm and teach them to fend for themselves in the unforgiving world on the streets. Ironically, we ourselves are one of the greatest challenges posed to street dogs. They must combat hostile dispositions from privileged human city-dwellers who engage in acts of animal cruelty towards them to show them their place.
Several cities, especially those in developing countries such as India, face the overpopulation of street dogs. Overpopulation of both dogs and humans living in close proximity to one another also makes both species more susceptible to the spread of diseases, such as rabies. This has resulted in humans perceiving street dogs as a nuisance and a health hazard, breeding animosity between erstwhile friendly species. The Indian street dog, which is, in fact, a landrace and not a breed of dogs born of intentional breeding, was termed as the “Indian pariah” by European colonists, reinforcing the notion that they are unwanted by humans. The perception of street dogs has led to humans resorting to acts of violence to defend their own. This hostility from humans has created a vicious cycle, resulting in street dogs reacting aggressively towards humans, only exacerbating their notorious image. In developed nations facing overpopulation, humans have traditionally adopted a “catch and kill” policy to mitigate the growth of the population.
However, studies have shown that even the Indian Street dog, with proper socialization with humans during formative months, can prove to be friendly, alert and intelligent companions to the Indian household. In recent times, there has been a global shift in the approach to the problem of overpopulation. Various countries are increasingly adopting a more humane approach by launching spaying and neutering programs to keep populations under control. A movement of animal rights activists, animal rescuers and shelters are imploring all of us to once again extend the hand of human compassion to our dearest animal friends. Shelters emphasise the importance of rescuing strays and providing them with food and shelter and beseech those among us seeking a canine companion to adopt the dogs without a home. If we are to live up to our names as Humans, we must employ our empathy to spread awareness of the inherent value of all life. We must attempt to overcome this cancerous enmity between humans and dogs and work towards reintegrating them into human society.
PfA Pet Care & Clinic offers neutering and spaying for dogs and cats at highly subsidised prices. Visit www.PfAPetClinic.com or call us on 080-28611986, 080-28612767.
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