Leh, July 05: The picturesque town of Leh is facing a growing crisis with a burgeoning feral dog population that has sparked confusion and disarray among local authorities and residents. The Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) and the district administration find themselves at odds over the most effective approach to address the issue, leaving the community in a state of uncertainty.
In a bid to tackle the stray dog menace, the LAHDC has embarked on an initiative to construct dedicated dog shelters. These facilities are intended to house and manage the stray dogs, aiming to provide a humane solution through long-term rehabilitation and a reduction in their street presence. This measure is seen as a forward-thinking approach to manage the problem, but it also signifies a delayed response, with the shelters yet to be completed and operational.
Simultaneously, the district administration has taken immediate action by issuing a strict directive to all eateries in Leh, including those operated by the Armed Forces. The new regulations mandate that these establishments manage their waste food responsibly to prevent it from being disposed of in open areas. This measure is intended to curb the attraction of feral dogs to food waste but has been criticized for lacking a comprehensive strategy.
Local community leader Sonam Dorje has expressed concerns about the fragmented nature of these efforts. “The administration needs to adopt a more synchronized approach. While shelters are a good idea, they take time to build and become operational. Meanwhile, strict waste management alone won’t solve the problem overnight and could lead to more aggressive behavior among the dogs as their food sources disappear,” Dorje stated.
The situation has also begun to affect Leh’s tourism sector, a vital part of the local economy. Tourists have reported aggressive encounters with stray dogs, leading to increased calls for immediate and effective action from the authorities. However, the district administration’s measures have been criticized as insufficient to address the urgent nature of the problem.
In a recent X (formerly Twitter) post, Jigmat Paljor, Coordinator of the Leh Apex Body, condemned the administration’s directive as “unethical and insensitive.” He called on LG Ladakh and the District Election Commissioner (DEC) of Leh to initiate mass sterilization campaigns rather than resorting to starvation as a solution. “The administration cannot starve these innocent dogs to death,” Paljor argued, urging a shift towards a more humane and effective approach.
Rinchen Norbu Wangchuk, another local advocate, echoed similar sentiments in her X post, criticizing the directive as symptomatic of a bureaucratic mindset that fails to address the root of the problem. “If you’re gonna feed them, adopt them. Don’t leave these dogs on the street. We don’t have the resources for mass sterilization on the scale needed to truly impact the population,” Wangchuk wrote, also highlighting the adverse effects of the feral dog population on local wildlife, particularly snow leopards.
As Leh grapples with this complex issue, there is a clear need for a cohesive strategy that integrates both immediate measures and long-term solutions. The community awaits a unified approach from the district administration and LAHDC that will effectively address the feral dog menace while safeguarding public health and the local environment.
