There are reported to be well over one million stray dogs (dogs without owners) roaming the streets and platforms in almost all villages, towns, and cities in India. As dogs give birth to four or five pups at a time, the population of stray dogs is now increasing at an alarming rate. Several cases of children and passers-by being bitten by stray dogs have been reported, sometimes with fatal consequences. In such circumstances, concerns have been expressed by people across India, demanding that this problem should be solved once and for all.
These stray dogs are not starving, as they are fed by animal lovers who either genuinely care for them or believe that such “charity” will bring them blessings. In any case, the reality on the ground is that the stray dog population has become a national issue.
It is unclear whether stray dogs are permitted to roam freely on streets and platforms in other countries, at least to the same extent as in India.
The Supreme Court of India has taken up the issue and has ruled that stray dogs should be caught, housed in shelters, and cared for by civic bodies. Animal lovers have opposed this verdict, organised protest marches, and appealed to the Supreme Court to reconsider. The Court has agreed to review the decision, and the final word is yet to be said on the matter.
The position of animal lovers seems to be that housing dogs in shelters would amount to curbing their free movement and restricting their liberty to live as they wish. They argue that stray dogs are as much children of God as humans are, and that humans have no greater rights over them. These are essentially academic arguments, but they have now become the subject of feverish debate in India.
The reality, however, is that local administrations in villages, towns, and cities have so far ignored this problem, failing in their duty to protect citizens. Stray dogs not only injure people but also cause traffic hazards by darting across roads and contribute to poor public hygiene. Local administrations have allowed this problem to grow into one of monstrous proportions.
A natural question then arises as to whether those who fight for the cause of stray dogs are truly one hundred per cent animal lovers. The fact is that most of them consume meat—goat, chicken, fish, beef, pork, venison, and so on. In other words, their love for animals is selective. At best, they can be described as lovers of stray dogs, not of animals in general.
In any case, the consensus view in the country appears to be that stray dogs should not be harmed or killed, but should be managed in a way that prevents them from becoming a public nuisance, as is currently the case.
One suggestion has been made: while a large number of people want stray dogs removed from the streets, why should animal lovers not take responsibility by adopting them as pets and keeping them in their care, thus removing their status as strays? Interestingly, stray dog lovers do not appear to have responded to this suggestion so far.
