Politics is always a matter that generates heated partisan exchangers and awakens lazy and disinterested minds beyond the confines of gossip and sexuality. Thus, in order to provoke meaningful debates on topical issues political discourse has remained the face of this column since its inception. However, The Badge of Courage wishes to give political commentary a very short respite and allow our fickle politics to find their footing so that our chameleon politicians take on the colour of their actual or true environment and decide if they do fit in. That is exactly how some of our streetwise politicians who behave like females dogs on heat have taken to live, turning politics into a hobby for insane mammals that lacks morals like dogs that can feed on their own vomit or mate with their offspring.
While this essay is dedicated to discussing the problem of stray dogs, I wish to take a brief moment to caution these turncoat politicians to think twice before they change their colours faster than chameleons do and sternly warn them that they shall get their comeuppance in the end. Whoever coached these fellows that changing political homes habitually like babies change diapers would hasten their rise to political stardom has polluted our politics beyond redemption. In effect, our political landscape is littered with damned politicians who seem to have taken an overdose of performance enhancing drugs that make them shift political allegiance much quicker than an escaping fart. Our chameleon politicians are abusing their democratic rights to join any political organization of their choice and in the process, stoking the fires of political instability.
These little bigots who do not see any need to observe any kind of civility in politics often pull long faces to feign persecution when they are in actual fact wrecked exponents of the political dark arts. They portray themselves as victims of political witch-hunt and in some cases as repentant wrongdoers whose wicked acts deserves to be pardoned as forgivable derangement brought about by the misdeeds of their rival political gangs often referred to as factions. Yet, these stereotypical representatives of nomadic politics know full well that their mission is to make a name for themselves even if it means behaving like rats that often dip into any hole. Their ultimate aim is to catapult their political profiles in the most unorthodox way. Indeed when you are in politics you have to soil your hands and have your contemptible actions airbrushed in the media frenzy ÔÇô a good rule of thumb!
Enough with our thoroughbred trouble-makers that we excitedly parade as terrifically-gifted firebrand politicians! Now permit me to discuss the problem of stray or street dogs that poses danger and discomfort to people and livestock. Excuse my limited knowledge of legislation relating to dog ownership especially in terms of confinement or leashing. It is my take that when a person takes on the ownership of a dog, there is an immediate acceptance of responsibility for that dog in terms of its general welfare.
Such responsibility would also include ensuring that the dog does not roam out freely as to pose a danger or discomfort to the community. It is noted that many of the stray or street dogs are perfectly owned but somewhat left to roam freely all the time without restriction of whatsoever. Some may not be having owners having been abandoned or born of un-owned dogs.
Too often joggers and many of us who occasionally walk the streets of Gaborone for pleasure or for exercise have to brave free-roaming or stray dogs some of which are visibly violent. School children, due to their noisy behaviours, are frequently chased and attacked by ferocious dogs that are literally in charge of every corner of the city’s streets.
While there are few reports of death or injury caused by stray dogs, the nuisance and inconvenience they cause is grossly underestimated. Those who choose to go for a walk with young children will tell you that the streets are always crowded with just too many dogs often engaged in group mating that causes thorough embarrassment so much that you would wish you never left your home. The embarrassment is often worsened by brutal questions from innocent children who want to know what the dogs are doing and related matters about mating.
Some of these street dogs are visibly diseased, starved and ready to feed on anything that they could find including infants which make them a real threat to human life. Additionally, street dogs also pose an image problem. Many Third World cities are already filthy and flooded with unsightly and malnourished residents. The added sight of injured, sickly and starved street dogs evokes humiliation and self-hate for locals who reckon that they are not much different from abandoned dogs. Therefore, hungry, dirty and diseased dogs competing for space and leftovers with humans epitomize the quality of life in Botswana and define who we are and our place in the global village.
Botswana authorities should initiate strict guidelines on dog ownership for purposes of promoting responsible dog ownership and the control of the dog population. Dog ownership in Botswana is influenced by a variety of compelling needs including the use of dogs to guard homes and other premises; the use of dogs as shepherds and for hunting as well as the use of dogs as pets. Nevertheless, what is worrying and slowly becoming a national crisis is the population of stray/street or free-roaming dogs that is certainly ballooning out of control. For this reason, it is important to manage the dog population through promoting and enforcing responsible ownership and culling stray dogs where necessary.
At the risk of offending animal rights groups, The Badge of Courage calls upon the relevant authorities to immediately initiate radical measures to address this problem even if it includes the dreaded shoot to kill method. Many cities the world over are battling the stray dog problem where many abandoned dogs have become wild and often hunt and kill livestock as well as attacking people. Botswana should move swiftly and nip the stray dog menace in the bud.
While promotion of responsible ownership may not evoke emotions, culling or shooting to kill stray dogs would certainly rub animal welfare groups the wrong way. Nevertheless, Botswana authorities need not be bullied by people with a misplaced love for animals. Animal rights groups often want us to buy into their love for animals which is superficial because they hardly ever proffer realistic and workable solutions to problem animals.
Their rhetoric is often to promote a ‘no-kill’ policy but they would not want to take responsibility for these problem dogs. The Botswana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has always decried limited resources and infrastructure in which case they may not be able to absorb the many stray or street dogs.
Another viable option could be to export these stray or street dogs to countries where dog meat is a delicacy. Many such countries like Taiwan, Indonesia and Koreas are reportedly in demand of dogs for their meat but are experiencing shortages. However, this option also presents a predicament in respect of international protocols for the exportation of dogs or dog meat. Nevertheless, this is an issue that Botswana could explore when dealing with the challenge of street or stray dogs.
After all other options fail street or stray dogs could be eliminated even though it is obvious that the killing of man’s best friend would generate widespread resistance. Public safety must be given utmost priority and initiatives aimed at reducing the risk of rabies and related diseases associated with dogs especially unkempt or neglected dogs should be explored regardless of their sensitivity and unpopularity.
Botswana will be a better place without stray dogs as much without chameleon politicians.