Sharp increase in stray dogs alarms Watchi Shopian residents
Locals suspect dogs are being shifted from urban areas
Shopian: The residents of Watchi in Zainapora hamlet of south Kashmir’s Shopian district are deeply troubled by the rising population of stray dogs in their locality, which has led to heightened concerns over safety and public inconvenience.
The locals from Watchi-one of the most populous villages assert that the issue has reached alarming levels, yet authorities have remained unresponsive to their repeated appeals for intervention.
Basheer Ahmad Dar, a local resident, stated that packs of stray dogs frequently roam the streets, making it difficult for people, particularly school-going children, to commute safely.
“The growing number of these dogs is posing a serious threat to public safety. Children, elderly individuals, and women find it especially challenging to move around, particularly during morning and evening hours,” he added.
Rubeena Akhter, another resident, expressed distress over the impact on children’s mobility.
“Due to fear of stray dogs, children cannot walk freely. Elders are now forced to accompany them to school and back home,” she said.
She further added that even elderly individuals are afraid to visit their farmlands, as several people have reportedly been attacked by stray dogs during the past two weeks.
Residents suspect that the sudden surge in the stray dog population may be due to the clandestine transportation of these animals from urban areas during the night hours.
They have urged authorities to take immediate action to address the issue.
“The authorities need to investigate how the number of stray dogs has increased so drastically. There seems to be no one in the area managing the problem,” they said.
Despite raising the matter with higher officials on multiple occasions, no concrete measures have been taken so far, the residents alleged.
The residents are now appealing once again to the concerned Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), the Deputy Commissioner of Shopian and SDM Zainapora to take urgent steps to resolve the issue and prevent further distress to the local population.
