Stories abound of students who leave home for early morning classes or workers returning home from a late night shift, even kids playing on streets. On many occasions, packs of dogs chase them aggressively, loudly barking, even when they are walking calmly. It is scary to the core. Many times, people try to escape, running upon mounds of mud and gravel, taking odd turns, putting them at risk of injury, not to mention the fright that sets in. The kids and the elderly can’t even do that and fall prey to dog bites. Belagavi’s streets have turned into danger zones, especially during the early hours of the morning and late at night, as dozens of aggressive stray dogs continue to attack unsuspecting citizens.
Small children, women, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, frequently encountering packs of dogs roaming unchecked.
PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES
For many, this moment of panic doesn’t just end once they escape—it lingers in the mind, causing several psychological issues.
1. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – Repeated or severe incidents can lead to PTSD, where individuals experience flashbacks, nightmares, or heightened anxiety when walking alone, especially in areas where the incident occurred.
2. Phobias and Avoidance Behavior – Many victims develop cynophobia (intense fear of dogs), leading them to avoid certain routes, walking alone, or even stepping out at night.
3. Hypervigilance and Anxiety – The fear of another attack can cause constant anxiety and over-alertness, making people jumpy at sudden noises or even fearful of harmless pet dogs.
4. Emotional Distress and Helplessness – The feeling of being out of control during a chase can result in lingering helplessness and loss of confidence, especially in young children or elderly individuals who feel physically incapable of escaping an attack.
5. Social Impact and Isolation – For some, the fear becomes so overwhelming that they avoid going outdoors alone, leading to social withdrawal, lack of exercise, and diminished quality of life.
Brushing these issues under the carpet under the garb of love for strays, is exactly how people dismiss domestic violence or ragging until it claims someone’s life or scars some other.
Despite sterilization drives, the stray dog population remains alarmingly high, and recent incidents have highlighted the serious risk of rabies. In a shocking case, rabid dogs attacked security personnel, putting them at grave risk and raising concerns about public safety. It is very easy to see polarised opinion, with many people showing sympathy, mostly those who have never faced a dangerous situation. But one must remember, there will be people who are scared of dogs. You can’t expect everyone to be comfortable with animals. Respect their fear and address it.
One of the major challenges in controlling this crisis is the opposition to capturing strays, largely from well-meaning citizens who feed them. While compassion is important, unchecked feeding encourages stray packs to thrive, increasing territorial aggression. The easy availability of leftover street food further fuels their numbers, making the situation harder to manage. Dog lovers argue about not encroaching upon their territory, not pelting stones and not posing harm to the strays who are by nature, always insecure. It must be emphatically noted that most of the times, the humans whom they attack do not do the above threatening gestures. Many of us know the trauma caused by having an aggressive pack of dogs following you. Even one dog barking at you can lead to trauma. It scares us for life, where we are unable to have a pet ever.
Authorities need to take urgent and decisive action, including stricter sterilization efforts, responsible feeding regulations, and swift removal of rabid and dangerous dogs. It does not imply that people want them culled. It just means minimising the danger and allowing people to move about freely. Until then, Belagavi’s residents remain at risk every time they step out of their homes.