On 22 February, we published a story about a stray dog in Goa, which approached a tourist. The dog hopped up on the scooter, and refused to leave, waiting for the tourist to start the scooter and ride away. Even though he was scared of dogs, he finally did it – and later brought the dog back to the same area from where he picked up the dog.
The tourist, and many who saw the video of this event, said that it was very cute, the dog had adopted the tourist, and that the dog had wanderlust and so on.
However, things are not so simple. A stray dog jumping up on a scooter and wanting a ride s a sign that something has gone wrong in its life. Let us explore why some dogs do it, and what are the consequences when tourists give them a ride.
Image source: CurlyTales
How do stray dogs learn to ride on scooters with tourists?
The dogs learn to do this when they are puppies, and are taken around by their owners on two-wheelers. Sometimes its not the owners, but long term tourists who stay in a place who temporarily treat a dog like family. They too take puppies around on their scooters. This is how these dogs get into the habit of climbing on scooters.
So what happened to the owners or tourists who taught the dog to ride?
If it was an owner, this means that the dog was either abandoned by the owner or the dog lost its way and doesn’t know how to get back to its home. But it remembers that scooter rides a part of its life, and seeing a scooter triggers its habit of its puppy days.
If a tourist taught this behaviour to the dog, that means that the tourists left – leaving the dog feeling abandoned and without a family. In both cases, seeing a scooter and rider triggers its old memories and habits, and the dog may feel something good will happen at the end of the ride. So it jumps on the scooter.
Does the dog know where it is going?
No. It has no idea where the rider would take it. It just thinks that a ride is a good thing. But such rides are very dangerous for stray dogs.
What dangers do dogs encounter when they hitchhike?
All stray dogs belong to some territory. In their territory, they usually have a pack of dogs with whom they belong. They know that area, its dangers such as other animals or traffic and dangerous people who may throw stones at them or hit them. They also know where food is available.
When a dog is taken elsewhere by a tourist, all that disappears. The dog takes a ride out of his old habits and instinct. But they are dropped off by the tourist in unfamiliar territory. So now the dog is in trouble. The local stray dogs who belong to that area very often attack the new dog that has appeared in their territory. The dog does not know the dangers in this area, who the friendly people are, and who are the ones likely to kick it or throw boiling water on it. It does not understand the new roads and traffic patterns. And it does not know where it can get food.
Sometimes when they are lucky, the dog finds a welcoming pack of local strays, but this does not happen often. But even when it happens, the danger does not end. Its old habits and instincts still remain, and when they see another tourist on a scooter, they climb on it and get dropped off in yet another unfamiliar area. And this process repeats again and again.
What should a tourist do if a stray dog wants to hitch a ride?
Ideally, give the dog some food or treats so it gets off the scooter, and then you can ride away. If the dog does not get off, leave the scooter and go away for a bit. The dog may get distracted and forget about its desire to ride. If the dog absolutely does not leave your scooter, take a short ride around the area and come back to the same place – and usually the dog should jump off as its desire to ride is now satisfied.
If you see a dog like this, you can also post a photo of the dog (on your scooter or on the street) to Pet Life Goa or Goa Animal Network, two Facebook groups which are into animal welfare. Just upload the photos, and post details of where you found the dog. Some volunteer who works with NGOs might have been trying to track down this lost dog for a while, and your post with location might be of great help to them.
Remember, these are unfortunate dogs whose habits, taught by humans, are getting them in danger repeatedly. If you do find it impossible to make the dog go away, give it a ride and bring it back – and the post a picture to those groups, where others may be able to help them.
The post Don’t Give A ‘Lift’ To Any Stray Dog That Climbs On Your Scooter In Goa: Here Is Why first appeared on Cartoq.
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