The Divar Animal Welfare Group (D.A.W.G) was conceived in July 2020 when a group of concerned residents came together to end incidents of animal cruelty, especially towards stray dogs. Our group began to monitor, document and spread awareness among islanders on the issues faced by humans and animals alike. What makes the issue on the islands unique is the remote location surrounded by the river compounded by the restricted access to the mainland.
Animals and humans here are confined in a limited space leading to higher chances of conflicts between all the species for survival. With yearly increase in their population, the residents are finding it difficult to peacefully coexist with the animals. Our aim is to find sustainable and ethical solutions through right channels of communication to spread awareness amongst the islanders.
The story of stray dogs on the island is not the same as the strays in the mainland. Some people believe stray dogs can be an asset because they make good guard dogs while others see them as nuisance. Many locals believe that letting stray dogs occupy the streets around the premises helps keep other animals like monkeys or stray cattle away from the property.
With an absence of wet-waste management system, locals often feed left overs to strays. This might seem like a healthy give and take relationship between the strays and the residents but it causes many more problems. Every street has a gang of several dogs leading to vicious territorial conflicts resulting in injuries, death and disease. Many dogs run away towards the edges of the island to breed and form more colonies of dogs. In such cases, capturing them for sterilization or rehabilitation becomes a challenge. With no regular dog management program in place, the island has witnessed exponential increase in the number of stray dogs.
Non friendly strays Dogs
Dogs that have survived by scavenging around the peripheral areas of the islands along the mangroves are not friendly with humans. These dogs have conflicts with other species such as otters, porcupines, mongooses and snakes. There is a likelihood of contracting rabies from some of these mammals which could lead to a spread of various diseases in dogs of the entire island. Unfriendly or wild strays occupy wetlands, bunds and bogs, they often feed on reptiles, rodents and eggs of migratory birds and are likely to cause the extinction of certain species.
Abandoned Dogs
There have been many instances where people from the mainland abandon pets on the island. Those who cannot afford their treatment or are unable to deal with the increasing number of strays in their locality, have been known to use the island as dumping area. These abandoned and displaced dogs more often than not end up dying of starvation or injuries due to conflicts with other dogs.
Problems faced by the communities on the island.
1- Negligence Leading to Animal Cruelty: Many local residents do not have time to deal with the issues and choose to ignore the increasing number of stray dogs and cats. While some care for and feed strays, others consider them a menace and indulge in cruel ways to get rid of them. This leads to conflicts among residents. Cases have been reported where residents have beaten them, poisoned and burnt them to dissuade them from taking shelter in or around their property.
2- Danger to human life
a) Vicious attacks on humans and house pets: There are several packs of dogs on the
loose that attack humans who enter their territory. House pets have also been
attacked by strays on more than one occasion.
b) Road Accidents: Stray dogs are causing road accidents resulting in grievous
injuries to people and dogs, damage to vehicles and property. Considering the large number of two wheeler vehicles on the island, the accidents could be fatal.
c) Rabies virus: There is an immediate danger of the spread of rabies among
strays. Several species of mammals are in close proximity to these dogs and
humans. Many strays here are malnourished and could have a poor immune system,
making them susceptible to disease. A rabies infected dog doesn't show overlaying
symptoms immediately, a casual lick, scratch or bite can easily pass the virus to pets
and humans.
DAWG initiatives
In hopes to lead by example, DAWG spent time and effort in organizing dog sterilization drives. The members arranged the sterilization of 40 plus stray dogs around the villages of Divar with help from Panjim Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) between June and August 2020 despite the heavy rains and restrictions due to the pandemic. DAWG hopes to work closely with organisations such as PAW, Animal Birth Control (ABC), Animal Husbandry in solving problems faced by the people and the animals in the islands.
DAWG and Divar Panchayat initiatives
After an appeal signed by more than 100 residents through DAWG correspondence, the Village Panchayats found the support they needed from the local residents and immediately arranged to facilitate our group on 31st August 2020 with the following:
1- Public announcement facility (speaker with a vehicle) to make the locals aware of the drive and of how they can help.
2- Making available spaces to confine dogs for pick up by animal welfare groups for sterilization.
3- Help with manpower and tools to carry out the jobs required to educate and spread awareness.
4- Assistance and guidance to form an NGO.
Our long term goals
1: Arrange for permanent veterinary services on the island.
2: Arrange awareness drives and engage local communities via flyers vis-à-vis actions and precautions.
3: Arrange educational programmes via screening of educational documentaries.
4: Social Media outreach.
5: Waste management solutions.
Active Members: Jessica Pereira, Sunaina Kerkar, Ketan Kerkar, Sayesh Prabhudesai, Russell Cardozo.
Advisors: Mrs. Sanchita Banerjee Rodriges, Mr. Mario Pinto, Mr. Eddie Picardo, Dr. Yogesh Naik, , ......
