EPOW - Ecology Picture of the Week

Dog Days

Domestic Dog (Canis lupus familiaris), Family Canidae
Rinchengang, Bhutan

Explanation:  Let sleeping dogs lie, goes the idiom ... meaning, do not disturb a peaceful situation, or it may erupt into trouble.

In much of the world, particularly in some Asian countries, domestic dogs are part of every day life.  But here in Bhutan is a world where Buddhist philosophy entails the care of all living things.  And this extends to high tolerance for feral dogs that commonly inhabit city and village streets, back alleys, walkways, and public plazas.  

During the daytime, the dogs rest quietly, but at sundown they stir and form aggressive and vocal packs, making it seeming to be quite unsafe to venture out alone in the dark.  At least that was my experience.  But it is also that of other outsiders visiting the country, although apparently it has not had a major impact on international tourism (Strickland 2015).

What can be done?  Apparently, Bhutan's Prime Minister has issued a request for the country's people to adopt a stray dog.  The degree to which this would help the marauding dog packs in the city streets is unclear, but is a step forward in this Buddhist country that does not condone culling.  

However, in 2009 the country had begun a nationwide program to neuter stray dogs (Willetts and Beck 2020).  At that time, there were approximately 100,000 stray dogs in the country, and that number was still growing.  

In 2020, another program was instituted for the Royal Bhutan Army to engage in mass feeding of stray dogs, in an attempt to reduce their aggression.  

Of course, loose, stray, or feral dogs can be of concern elsewhere, as well,
as noted by this sign posted at a conservation area
in western Oregon, USA.

And in New Zealand, dogs off the leash are a major hazard
for recovery and conservation of wildlife there,
including the iconic kiwi.

  
   
Information:
     Rinzin, K., T. Tenzin, and I. Robertson.  2016.  Size and demography pattern of the domestic dog population in Bhutan: Implications for dog population management and disease control.  Preventive Veterinary Medicine 126:39-47.
     Strickland, P.  2015.  It's a dog's life: international tourists' perceptions of the stray dog population of Bhutan.  Journal of Arts and Humanities 4(12):1-11.  
     Willetts, M.C., and F.D. Beck.  2020.  The influences of Buddhism and development on the well-being of Bhutan's street dogs.  Animal Studies Journal 9(2):56-86.