Another video has gone viral on social media. It is disturbing, heartbreaking and, in my view, entirely preventable.
A young boy, desperately trying to escape an aggressive pack of stray dogs, runs onto a road. In panic and fear, he is struck by a moving vehicle and loses his life.
As I watched the video, one thought kept troubling me: this was not merely a road accident. It was the tragic outcome of a problem that has been allowed to grow unchecked for years.
Those who believe stray dogs are not a serious concern should watch that video. Those who think the issue is exaggerated should imagine the pain of the grieving family. And those entrusted with public safety should ask themselves a simple question: how many more lives must be lost before meaningful action is taken?
Sadly, this is not the first such tragedy. We still remember the heartbreaking case of a toddler who reportedly drowned in a drain while trying to escape stray dogs. Over the years, countless children, elderly citizens and pedestrians have been chased, bitten, injured and traumatized. Yet despite recurring incidents, the response has largely remained reactive and inadequate.
As a resident of Srinagar, I see the problem around me every day. In many localities, including my own area of Gulberg Colony in Hyderpora, packs of stray dogs roam streets and lanes freely. Similar reports emerge from numerous neighbourhoods across the city. Children use these roads to reach schools and darsgahs. Elderly people walk to mosques for prayers. Women, workers and students begin their day on these same streets. Increasingly, many carry sticks or metal rods for protection.
I often find myself anxious during my walks to the mosque for Fajr and Isha prayers. Such fear should not be part of daily life in a civilized society.
The problem extends beyond physical attacks. Throughout the night, incessant barking disrupts sleep. Patients, students preparing for examinations, senior citizens and working people are often deprived of much-needed rest. Sleep disturbance may appear a minor inconvenience, but it carries significant public health implications.
Compassion Must Include Human Safety
I wish to make one point absolutely clear. This is not an argument against animal welfare.
Our faith and culture teach compassion towards all living beings. Islam places great emphasis on kindness to animals, and cruelty towards them is unacceptable. However, compassion for animals cannot come at the cost of public safety. Human welfare and animal welfare must coexist; one should not undermine the other.
I am also concerned about practices that unintentionally worsen the problem. Many well-meaning individuals regularly leave food scraps and kitchen waste in public spaces. While motivated by kindness, such practices often encourage the formation of territorial dog packs in residential areas. The result is increased risk for children, women, elderly residents and pedestrians.
Those who advocate for animal rights must also recognize the rights of ordinary citizens—the right of a child to walk safely to school, the right of an elderly person to reach a mosque without fear, the right of a patient to access healthcare facilities safely and the right of every citizen to move freely in public spaces.
The fear of dog bites is not irrational. While not every dog carries rabies, no one can identify with certainty which animal may be infected. Rabies remains one of the deadliest diseases known to humanity. Once symptoms appear, survival is exceedingly rare. Every dog bite therefore becomes a medical emergency, bringing anxiety, repeated hospital visits, treatment costs and psychological trauma.
Healthcare institutions across Kashmir deal with thousands of dog-bite cases every year. Behind every statistic is a frightened child, a worried parent, an elderly victim or a family struggling with the emotional and financial consequences of an attack.
From Assurances to Action
What concerns me most is the apparent gap between public concern and visible action. Committees are formed, discussions take place and statements are issued. Yet many citizens feel that the situation on the ground continues to deteriorate.
In my conversations with residents, I often hear deep frustration. Many believe their concerns are acknowledged but rarely addressed with the urgency they deserve.
I believe the time has come for a comprehensive, scientific and transparent strategy. Authorities should undertake an honest assessment of the stray dog population and make the findings public. Areas reporting high numbers of dog-bite incidents must be identified and prioritized. Sterilization programmes need regular monitoring and evaluation to determine whether they are achieving their intended outcomes. Waste management systems require urgent strengthening, as open garbage remains a major source of food for stray animals.
Municipal bodies, veterinary services, public health authorities, urban planners and community organizations must work together under a clearly defined roadmap. Most importantly, accountability must accompany every intervention. Citizens deserve timelines, measurable targets and transparent reporting of progress.
The recent tragedy should not be dismissed as an isolated accident. It should be treated as a warning—a warning that the problem has crossed acceptable limits and that continued inaction carries real human consequences.
The people of Kashmir are compassionate. We care about animals. But we also care about our children, our parents, our patients and our neighbours. The balance between animal welfare and public safety is not impossible to achieve. Many societies around the world have demonstrated that humane and effective solutions are possible when there is political will, administrative commitment and community participation.
The question before us is simple: will we act now, or wait for another tragedy to force us into action?
How many more frightened children? How many more injuries? How many more sleepless nights? How many more grieving families?
In my opinion, the time for reports, excuses and passing responsibility has passed. The time for decisive action is now.
