STREET DOG  ISSUE : SOLUTIONS &  STRAY DOG’S  LEGAL RIGHTS IN INDIA 

 

STREET DOG  ISSUE : SOLUTIONS &  STRAY DOG’S  LEGAL RIGHTS IN INDIA 

Compassion for all living creatures has been the philosophy of India – the land of sages. In most Indian households, rural and urban, when people cook, they reserve a portion of the food for cows, dogs, and birds. However, human beings, who by being born as a superior species, consider themselves to be the sole claimant to this planet and its related dividends. Animals have been driven out of their habitats and humans who wish to help them are also targeted and terrorized. There have been innumerable instances where dog lovers have been assaulted by goons masquerading as saviors of the human race.

Animals may be mute but we as a society have to speak on their behalf. No pain or agony should be caused to the animals. Cruelty to animals causes psychological pain to them. Animals breathe like us and have emotions. The animals require food, water, shelter, normal behavior, medical care, and self-determination.

Many building societies in India have biased rules against pets. Pet owners often receive a lot of flak for flouting rules regarding their pets – some feasible and valid, but others, bizarre and illegal.

 

Stray Dogs have the right to food and citizens have the right to feed

 

Unfortunate as it is, most of the Indian streets are riled with blatant apathy towards animal lives. The callousness in civic societies is far worse – where a handful of humans who care for stray animals is often met with unbelievable ridicule and resistance. It is not that there aren’t animal laws in India – but the ineptness to implement them and the severity of punishment leaves them crippled.

“It is a fundamental duty upon every citizen of India to protect wildlife and have compassion for all living creatures.”–   Article 51A(G), Indian Constitution

Here are some laws put forth in the constitution to uphold the rights of the voiceless and activists who work towards animal welfare.

 

Prevalent rules for protecting stray dogs

Feeding stray dogs is legal both within and outside any society, and what is prohibited is threatening dog feeders from carrying out their essential obligation under Article 51A(g) of the Constitution of India. The Animal Welfare Board of India has issued extensive guidelines on feeding stray dogs, and there have been numerous judicial decisions protecting dog feeders and caretakers who face the wrath of ill-informed neighbors.

Stray dogs are protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), 1960, and rules enacted under Section 38 of the act, particularly, the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001; Indian Penal Code, sections 428 & 429 and Article 51A (g) of the Constitution of India. Street dogs cannot be beaten, killed or driven away or displaced, or dislocated, they can only be sterilized in the manner envisaged in The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, vaccinated, and then returned to their original locations. The stray dogs can be sterilized only when they’ve attained the age of at least 4 months and not before that. Killing, maiming, poisoning, or rendering useless any animal is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years or with a fine or with both, under Section 428 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860.

As per Section 11 (i) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 abandoning an animal, leaving it in a situation where it suffers pain due to starvation or thirst, is a punishable offense.

The Delhi High Court states that there are no laws that prohibit people from feeding stray animals. It is a crime to threaten, abuse, or harass neighbors who feed animals. (Section 506)

While the severity of punishment(s) is still not that harsh and needs to be revisited real soon, one can hope that animal laws act as a deterrent to those who try to take the law in hand. We hope that awareness regarding these laws would help people to report and stand up for the animals.

  

The street dog issue

Why do street dogs exist?

Most free-roaming dogs belong to an ancient canine race known as the Pariah Dog, which has existed all over Asia and Africa ever since human beings started living in settlements. They are, and have always been, scavengers–that is, they live on garbage created by humans. In India the breed has existed for perhaps 14,000 years or more. In addition to scavenging, they are widely kept as pets by rural and urban slum households

Much of the urban street dog population consists of mongrels or mix-breeds–descended from pure-breed dogs who have been allowed by their owners to interbreed with pariahs

The size of street dog populations always corresponds to the size and character of the human population of the area. Urban India has two features which create and sustain street dog populations:

1) Large amounts of exposed garbage, which provide an abundant source of food

2) A huge population of slum and street-dwellers, who often keep the dogs as free-roaming pets

Mumbai has over 12 million human residents, of whom over half are slum-dwellers. At least 500 tonnes of garbage remain uncollected daily. Therefore conditions are perfect for supporting a particularly large population of street dogs

 

Problems caused by street dogs

Haphazard urban planning and human overpopulation have led to a correspondingly huge population of street dogs in most Indian cities. They cause the following problems:

• Rabies–a fatal disease which can be transmitted to humans. Although all warm-blooded animals can get and transmit rabies, dogs are the most common carrier. India has the highest number of human rabies deaths in the world (estimated at 35,000 per annum)
• Dog bites-Most occur when dogs are trying to mate and fighting among themselves–pedestrians and other humans in the vicinity often get bitten accidentally. Females with pups to protect may also be aggressive and bite people who approach their litter
• Barking and howling–an accompaniment to dog fights which invariably take place over mating

 

Why removal of dogs doesn’t work

Most Indian civic bodies have been killing street dogs for decades, some since the last century. The concept was directly imported from the developed countries without any understanding of the very different urban conditions in the third world. In developing countries such as India, where exposed garbage and slums encourage the existence of street dogs, killing or removing street dogs has proved completely ineffective in controlling rabies or the dog population. This is because dogs removed are easily replaced

Dogs have extremely high breeding rates. According to one estimate, two dogs can multiply to over 300 (over a few generations) in three years. They are also highly territorial, with each dog having its fixed niche

Here is what happens when dogs are taken away:

• Their territories become vacant and dogs from neighbouring areas move in to occupy them
• The dogs who escape the catching squads also continue to multiply, so the territorial vacuums are soon filled again
• Dog fights increase, since every time a new dog enters a territory he is attacked by the dogs already in the neighbourhood
• Dog fights continue to take place over mating
• Dog bites also increase, as during dog fights many humans get accidentally bitten
• Rabies continues to spread to humans, since none of the dogs is vaccinated
• Rabies continues to spread because the dog-catchers are reluctant to pick up a rabid dog–so only healthy dogs get killed

As long as exposed garbage and slums continue to exist, dog-killing programmes cannot work. They only create an unstable, constantly changing, rapidly multiplying and rabies-carrying dog population

In Mumbai in the late 1980s and early 1990s, there were about 50 human rabies deaths every year in spite of a large scale dog-killing programme. Government sources claim that over half of human rabies deaths are caused by unvaccinated pets, so the killing of street dogs had no impact on human rabies

 

The effective solution:
Sterilisation-cum-vaccination

For decades the Municipal Corporation of Mumbai used to kill up to 50,000 street dogs annually. The method used was electrocution. In 1994, in response to demands made by our organisation and others, dog-killing was replaced by mass sterilisation and immunisation of street dogs

Under this programme, street dogs are surgically neutered and then replaced in their own area. They are also vaccinated against rabies

• Since territories are not left vacant, new dogs cannot enter
• Mating and breeding also cease
• With no mating or crossing of territories, dog fights reduce dramatically
• Since fighting reduces, bites to humans also become rare
• The dogs are immunised, so they do not spread rabies
• Over time, as the dogs die natural deaths, their numbers dwindle

The dog population becomes stable, non-breeding, non-aggressive and rabies-free, and it gradually decreases over a period of time

FAQs

We are constantly asked questions about the street dog issue, both by people who think dogs a nuisance and by dog-lovers. These are the most common ones.

Q1. Why are there so many street dogs here anyway? Why aren’t there any in London and New York?
A1. The urban environment in India has two features that encourage street animal populations – exposed garbage and slums. Neither of these exists in developed countries.

Street dogs are scavengers and garbage provides an ample source of food for them. In the absence of this food source, dogs would not be able to survive on the streets. Moreover in India and most other south-east Asian countries, street dogs are also kept as free-roaming pets by slum-dwellers and street-dwellers such as ragpickers.

There are street dogs in developed countries too – but they are abandoned pets, or feral dogs (meaning dogs who were once pets but now live like street dogs). They are unable to survive or breed on city streets since they can find nothing to eat. Most are captured, housed in animal shelters and rehomed.

Q2. Why did the municipal corporation stop killing dogs?
A2. Mass killing of dogs as a population control measure was started by the British in the 19th Century. It was continued on a large scale (up to 50,000 dogs killed every year) after Independence by the municipal authorities all over India, with the aims of eradicating human rabies deaths and the street dog population. By 1993, it was admitted to be a complete failure, since human rabies deaths had actually increased, and the dog population was also perceptibly growing.

Studies by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Animal Welfare Board of India (Ministry of Environment & Forests) show that dog population control measures which work in developed countries are unsuccessful in third world developing countries, since urban conditions are very different. The urban environment here encourages breeding of street dogs, so no matter how many dogs were killed, they were quickly replaced by more.

That’s why in January 1994, the killing programme was replaced by mass sterilisation of street dogs. The sterilisation programme is carried out by non-government organisations in collaboration with the municipal corporation.

Q3. If street dog population control is the issue, wouldn’t it make more sense to kill the dogs or take them away?
A3. Removal or killing of street dogs seems to be the most obvious method of controlling the population, but it has actually proved to be completely useless. This is because even when large numbers of dogs are killed, the conditions that sustain dog populations remain unchanged. Dogs are territorial and each one lives in its own specific area. When they are removed, the following things happen:

• The food source – garbage – is still available in abundance, so dogs from neighbouring areas enter the vacant territories.
• Pups born and growing up in the surrounding areas also move in to occupy these vacant niches.
• The few dogs who escape capture and remain behind attack these newcomers, leading to frequent and prolonged dog-fights.
• Since they are not sterilised, all the dogs who escape capture continue to mate, leading to more fighting.
• In the course of fights, dogs often accidentally redirect their aggression towards people passing by, so many humans get bitten.
• Females with pups become aggressive and often attack pedestrians who come too close to their litter.
• They breed at a very high rate (two litters of pups a year). It has been estimated that two dogs can multiply to over 300 in three years.

Since dogs who are removed are quickly replaced, the population does not decrease at all. The main factors leading to dog aggression – migration and mating – continue to exist, so the nuisance factor remains.

Since removal of dogs actually increases dog-related problems, the effective solution is to sterilise the dogs, vaccinate them against rabies and put them back in their own areas.

Q4. But what’s the point of putting the dogs back after sterilisation? Doesn’t the problem just continue?
A4. No, when dogs are sterilised and put back in their own area, the population and the problems caused by dogs both reduce. Here’s how:

• Each dog guards its own territory and does not allow new dogs to enter.
• Since they are all neutered, they no longer mate or multiply.
• The main factors leading to dog aggression – migration and mating – are eliminated. So dog-fights reduce dramatically.
• With the decrease in fighting, bites to humans also decrease.
• Since females no longer have pups to protect, this source of dog aggression is also eliminated.
• Over a period of time, as the sterilised dogs die natural deaths, the population is greatly reduced.

Please remember, there is NO overnight solution to the street dog issue. It is simply not possible to wish all the dogs away. With sterilisation, the population becomes stable, non-breeding and non-rabid and decreases over time. It also becomes largely non-aggressive. On the other hand, when dogs are removed or killed, new dogs keep entering an area and the population is continuously changing, unstable, aggressive, multiplies at a high rate and carries rabies. Which method makes more sense?

Q5. Why don’t you dog-lovers just keep all these street dogs in your own homes?
A5. Dog-lovers have not created the street dog population. They merely try to minimise it through sterilisation, and to keep it rabies-free through vaccination. Moreover, even if a lot of street dogs got adopted, the basic problems of vacant territories and dog replacement would remain.

(By the same logic, people who love children could be asked to keep the entire population of street children in their own homes!)

Incidentally, our organisation does promote the adoption of pariahs and mongrels – so if someone you know is planning to buy a pure-breed dog, try and persuade him to adopt a street instead. Although it won’t provide a large-scale solution, you will have the satisfaction of knowing you got one dog off the street!

Q6. Can’t some of the dogs be released in another place?
A6. Since they would be entering the territory of other dogs, there would be a lot of fighting in the area in which they are released, and in the process more humans would get bitten. Their original territories would also be left vacant, so new dogs would enter… and the street dog problem would go on forever.

Q7. What about rabies? Don’t they all spread rabies?
A7. Only rabid dogs spread rabies. Healthy ones don’t.

The World Health Organisation recommends mass vaccination of dogs as the only effective way to eradicate human rabies. Mass vaccination has led to a significant decrease in human rabies deaths in Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Jaipur and Mumbai itself. Recently Fethiye in southwestern Turkey implemented this programme and dog-related problems have reduced.

The sterilisation programme includes anti-rabies vaccination. Our organisation also annually vaccinates a large number of street dogs on site. Between 1993 and 2005, we have vaccinated over 37,000 street dogs.
Q8. But didn’t dog-killing help in controlling rabies?
A8. Dog-killing was ineffective as a rabies eradication measure, since the catchers only captured healthy dogs and the rabid ones were left to spread the disease. Official sources also claim that half of human rabies deaths are caused by unvaccinated pets, so once again killing street dogs is of no use.

The killing method has failed to control rabies in developing countries worldwide – including Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, North Korea, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Jordan, Syria, Yemen, Bangladesh, Nepal, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

Q9. I sometimes see dogs with skin problems and hairless patches – aren’t they all rabid?
A9. Skin problems and fur fall are not symptoms of rabies. Rabies affects the central nervous system, not the skin. Probably the confusion occurred because there is a skin disease called scabies. Strangely, this question is asked quite often in India.

Q10. How exactly do you sterilise the dogs? Are both males and females sterilised?
A10. Both males and females need to be sterilised, because while the females actually give birth to more dogs, the males are more aggressive and have much higher nuisance value. Complaints from the public are almost always about males.

Both males and females are surgically sterilised at our centre, under general anaesthesia, by qualified veterinary surgeons. The process is also called neutering. In the case of females the ovaries and uterus are removed, and in the case of males the testicles are removed. Therefore both mating and breeding cease. The dogs are kept for post-operative care for a period of 8 days and then released in their original location.

Q11. Ok, so the birth rate of dogs comes down over time…but what about dog-bites?
A11. As explained earlier, most dog aggression occurs during mating time, as dogs cross territories to mate and fight with other dogs whose areas they enter. Humans passing by get accidentally bitten in the course of these dog-fights. This problem ends when all the dogs from a neighbourhood are sterilised.

As testosterone levels come down after sterilisation, male dogs also become less aggressive. Street dog females are usually aggressive only when they have puppies to protect, so with sterilisation this problem ends as well.

Q12. Dogs bark and howl the whole night – how can you solve that problem?
A12. Barking and howling occur during dog-fights, which take place at their mating time, so with sterilisation the problem disappears. Dogs bark when new dogs enter their territory, and as these migrations cease with sterilisation, the barking largely ends too. They also howl when they live and move in packs. When the dog population dwindles in size, pack behaviour also declines.

Q13. How would I know if a dog has been sterilised?
A13. Our organisation puts an identification tattoo on the dog’s left inner thigh, giving the month and year of sterilisation. Other animal welfare groups put different identification marks – some brand the dog’s outer thigh and one organisation cuts a triangular notch in the ear.

Q14. The dog problem may have reduced in South Mumbai – but there are still so many dogs in the suburbs. What’s being done about that?
A14. The human population and the number of high-rise buildings are growing very fast in the suburbs, leading to suddenly increased amounts of garbage, leading to a large population of street dogs.

Our organisation has been working consistently for eleven years in South Mumbai, which is why the dog population has reduced there. Animal welfare organisations working in the suburbs started operations much later, and will need some time to show results.

Q15. How did street dogs originate anyway?
A15. India has long been home to the Pariah Dog, one of the world’s oldest canine breeds. In slightly varied forms, the Pariah Dog has existed for over 14,000 years all over Asia and North Africa. Most rural families own at least one. As villages and rural areas turned into cities, these dogs became street dogs. As explained earlier, they survive by eating garbage and are also kept as pets by slum-dwellers.

The street dog population is regularly increased by callous owners who abandon their pets on the street. Many irresponsible pure-breed owners also allow their pets to mate with street dogs, producing a large population of mix-breeds or mongrels.

Q16. What is the difference between street dogs and mongrels?
A16. Street dog is merely a legal term indicating an animal who is ownerless and homeless. It does not refer to the breed of the dog. When pure-breedsare lost or abandoned on the street by their owners, they also become street dog.

A mongrel is a dog of mixed or indeterminate breed. Both the terms street and mongrel are commonly – and erroneously – used to denote a Pariah Dog. Pariahs are a distinct breed of dog, coming under the category of primitive or aboriginal breeds. Since they are not commercially recognised, this fact is not widely known.

In India, most street dogs are Pariah Dogs or mongrels. Once a Pariah or mongrel gets adopted as a house-pet, it ceases to be a street dog.

Q17. My building society wants to remove all the dogs from the premises and release them in another area – is that legal?
A17. No, it is absolutely illegal and punishable. Under the Bombay Municipal Corporation Act only the staff of the BMC or people authorised by them can capture street dogs. The guidelines for dog population control approved by the Mumbai High Court in 1998 also prohibit the permanent removal of street dogs from their original location.

Q18. Some people go around feeding street dogs. Doesn’t that increase the street dog problem?
A18. No. Street dog populations are created and sustained by garbage, not by handouts from kind-hearted ladies! In fact, people who feed dogs generally get them vaccinated and neutered as well, so the population would actually decrease where dogs are being fed. However, feeding should be done in a responsible manner so that it does not cause any disturbance to the public.

Q19. Isn’t it sad that street dogs have to eat garbage?
A19. Archaeological studies indicate that wolves started living near human settlements so that they could eat the garbage thrown outside. Dogs evolved from these wolves, and have always been scavengers. Unlike humans, they do not view garbage with disgust. In fact, even a well-fed pedigreed dog will often make trips to the dustbin when his owners aren’t looking. Of course, eating garbage has its risks, since once in a while a dog may eat something poisonous – but many street dogs lead long and healthy lives with no other source of food.

Q20. What should I do if I want the dogs in my area sterilised?
A20. You should request the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, preferably in writing, to pick up the dogs and hand them over to the nearest animal welfare organisation for sterilisation. State clearly that you want them returned to the same area afterwards. If you like, contact us and we will arrange for them to be picked up.

Q21. If I want street dogs vaccinated against rabies what should I do?
A21. We can vaccinate them if they are within Mumbai city limits. Contact us.

Q22. If I see a sick or injured dog, what should I do?
A22. Our first-aid groups can treat wounds and skin problems on site. If the injury or illness is serious, call the SPCA on 24137518.

Q23. Do I have to pay anything if I want any of those services?
A23. Our organisation does not charge for any services. However, check with individual organisations regarding their policies.

 

 

Why adopt a pariah ?

The Indian Pariah Dog is an ancient breed related to the spitz family and the Australian Dingo. Its origin dates back 12,000 to 15,000 years – older than any other breed. Since it is not commercially bred or recognised, it has long been relegated to a second-class position in the canine world. However in recent years it has been steadily gaining in popularity as a house pet.

Pariahs are friendly, highly intelligent and adaptable, not to mention good-looking and well-proportioned. They are very alert and naturally good watchdogs. They are usually healthy and sturdy, and particularly hardy in our sweltering tropical climate.

In Israel, the local Pariah dog has now been recognised and specially bred.

Rabies

What is true. What is false. What you must know.

Human beings have always been afraid of the unknown. Whether it was lightning or thunder thousands of years ago, or smallpox in the last century, ignorance of factual information has always led to myths, rumours and irrational fears. At the same time, ignorance of precautions has led to many tragic deaths.

This small piece of communication from The Welfare of Street Dogs (WSD) attempts to demystify the dreaded and misunderstood disease called rabies, in an easy question-answer format. We would be grateful if you could share this information with your friends.

Q1. What exactly is rabies ? What part of the body does it affect ?
A1. Rabies is a fatal viral disease which affects the central nervous system. It causes inflammation of the brain, leading to death.

Q2 How is rabies spread ?.
A2. It is transmitted when infected saliva enters broken skin. This means through the bite of a rabid animal, or through its lick on an existing cut or wound. The disease is not airborne and has very rarely been spread by aerosols. It can be spread by all warm-blooded animals (especially mammals), but for humans dogs are the most important source of infection.

Q3. Is it curable ?
A3. Once the symptoms are developed it is not curable. However it can be successfully prevented by prompt post-exposure treatment.

Q4.  What is the duration of the disease ?
A4. The “incubation period” is roughly 10 days to 1 year. It depends on several factors including the site of entry of the virus into the body. Generally the closer the bite is to the brain, the quicker the progress of the disease. Once clinical signs appear the disease progresses rapidly to death, generally within 5 to 7 days.

Q5. What are the signs ?
A5. First there are vague, non-specific signs such as fever, nausea or pain. Thereafter canine rabies can take one of two forms: “furious” rabies or “dumb” rabies. In the “furious” form there is great restlessness, abnormal behaviour, salivation, weakness of the back legs and paralysis. The dog is hyperexcitable and aggressive, biting even imaginary objects. In the “dumb” form, dogs show incoordination leading to paralysis, and want to hide in dark places. In both forms there are changes in the voice and inability to swallow. In the last stage, paralysis causes respiratory failure, leading to coma and death.

Q6. Does a dog showing these signs definitely have rabies ?
A6.  Not necessarily. Of course, if all the signs are present there is a strong possibility of rabies. However, certain neurological or other disorders can also show several of these symptoms. Salivation can be caused by foreign bodies or ulcers in the mouth or even by poisoning. People also tend to interpret provoked biting as rabid behaviour. Hence diagnoses should be carried out only by experts.

Q7. How is rabies diagnosed ?
A7. Either clinically or by laboratory examination. For clinical diagnoses the veterinarian looks for a combination of symptoms, at the animal’s history and habits, its attitude towards its owner (in the case of pets) and towards other dogs. Laboratory examination of brain tissue is carried out after death. Blood tests (i.e.ELISA) can be carried out on living animals but are not commonly performed. Please remember that a lay person is not qualified to diagnose rabies and may cause much harm by attempting to do so.

Q8. Is it true rabid dogs cannot bear the sight of water ?
A8. No; it is more a case of being unable to drink water due to painful spasms and paralysis of the muscles which assist swallowing. This condition also causes salivation, since the dog cannot swallow his saliva.

Q9. Do all street dogs carry rabies ?
A9. No. However, they are very vulnerable, since many of them are still unvaccinated and unlikely to get post-exposure vaccinations after a bite.

Q10. Can pet dogs get rabies ? Should they be vaccinated ?
A10. Yes! Unvaccinated pets who roam freely are at very high risk. Official sources indicate that about half of human rabies deaths are caused by the bites of pets. Pet dogs should be vaccinated every year.

Q11. What about cats ?
A11. Pet cats should also be vaccinated every year. Neither pet dogs nor cats should be allowed to roam freely.

Q12. If I am bitten or licked by an animal suspected of rabies, what should I do ?
A12. Act quickly. (a) As soon as possible wash the wound for at least 10 minutes with soap and running water. The importance of washing cannot be overemphasised. It removes 94.4% of the viral particles. (b) Next, disinfect the wound with Dettol, Cetavelon, Betadine or spirit. (c) Consult a doctor and start your post-exposure vaccination course. If any unknown dog makes an unprovoked attack, take the full course. If a known dog makes a provoked attack, take 3 vaccinations at least. In either case the dog should be observed for at least 14 days. This is because in dogs, death generally occurs within 10 to 12 days after the virus reaches the salivary glands. If the animal shows no signs within this period it is more or less safe to assume that he will not have transmitted rabies.

Q13. Can an animal who shows no signs of rabies transmit the disease ?
A13. In real life it is extremely unlikely that a dog who shows no signs will transmit the disease. There is a “carrying” stage called the incubation period, from the time when the virus enters the body and starts multiplying, up to the time it reaches the brain and the animal starts showing signs. Transmission during this period has been very rarely observed and only under laboratory conditions.

Q14. Can puppies be born with rabies or get it through their mother’s milk ?
A14. They cannot be born with it, but the virus could be found in the mother’s milk. However puppies of a rabid bitch are at higher risk through their mother’s licks and bites.

Q15. If I am bitten by a rabid animal, will I definitely get rabies ?
A15. No. In fact, human beings have relatively low susceptibility to rabies. According to statistics, on an average only 15-20% of people who have been bitten by proven rabid animals and received no post-exposure treatment die from rabies. However, please do not ever neglect your post-exposure treatment. With rabies, you should not take a chance.

Q16. What is the rate or human rabies deaths in India ?
A16. The rate is estimated to be 1.7 – 3.3 per 1,00,000 inhabitants (about 25,000 – 30,000 deaths per annum). In Mumbai there were about 50 deaths a year until 1992. The deaths had dropped considerably by 2001, largely due to the implementation of mass vaccination as a preventive measure.

Q17. What should I do if I see a rabid-looking street dog ?
A17. Call the Municipal Dog Squad and ask them to catch the dog immediately and isolate it for observation. Please do not attempt to touch it or kill it.

 

As per a news report in Scroll.in, Six  years back in 2016, citizens in Kerala took matters in their own hands to seemingly solve ‘the stray dog menace,’ resulting in large-scale culling of dogs. That was nothing short of mass murder and definitely not the way to go about solving the issue. In fact, stray dogs have as much a right to live with dignity and peace as we humans do.

Why does the attack & abuse happen?

People generally attack stray dogs, kill or take away their puppies and call for their mass slaughter if they bite in retaliation. Erich Fromm, a renowned psychoanalyst and social philosopher gave an insight into man’s irrational and brutal behaviour in his famous book, ‘The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness’. He wrote, “Man’s history is a record of extraordinary destructiveness and cruelty and human aggression, it seems, far surpasses that of man’s animal ancestors, man is in contrast to most animals, a real “killer.’”

Prevalent Myths

Animals can’t be trusted

The relationship between humans and dogs has existed since more than 15,000 years. Humans have raised canines to be their friendly and eager companions with an added talent of interpreting the former’s emotions.

According to the National Geographic, a new study reveals that even stray dogs who are untrained, homeless and abused can interpret our body language.

Strays are seen as carriers of rabies

Even though not all dogs have rabies, all dog bites definitely need to be treated – unless the dog had been vaccinated against rabies in the previous year.

Stories about stray dogs biting & mulling

Surprisingly, there are a lot of people who love their own pets but are extremely wary of stray dogs. Their reasons could range from common beliefs that strays are dirty, disheveled and can’t be trusted. Viral stories on social media on how a dog or a pack of dogs were seen brutally mauling a child are a big reason for this kind of a behavior. Sometimes, we just need to stop & analyze these stories and question ourselves before jumping off to conclusions –

Ask yourself question: Why did someone just stand there, watching the incident, shooting such an incident instead of immediately saving the child/victim or informing others about it? The animals unfortunately, would never be able to reveal their side of the reality, thus giving another reason to torture those animals.

Way forward

Implementing a thoughtful & safe Sterilization drive

Municipal bodies across the country need to control the population of stray dogs by implementing sterilization programs. Sterilization drives by the Government have been successful only in a limited way so far because of various reasons. For instance, these drives need to be sensitively handled which means stray dogs must be picked up with kindness, they should be sterilized by experts and there should be proper monitoring of the same by respective panels. These panels must strictly include members from animal welfare societies, resident welfare associations, animal care takers and technical staff.

Respect towards feeders/volunteers

One needs to understand that by feeding stray dogs indirectly helps with sterilization drives. The feeders or volunteers are able to win the dogs’ trust, making it easier for them to get the dogs vaccinated/ sterilized. People should therefore not try to create hurdles for well-meaning volunteers who feed and look after them, even if they lack compassion towards these creatures. In the ultimate analysis, this gesture which in turn leads to sterilization of dogs and therefore lessening of their numbers helps the society. And of course more importantly, new born puppies do not have to face the brunt of living on the street without food and water and ultimately getting run over by a vehicle.

Cruelty to animals is not done

Let’s not create bad karma for ourselves by being cruel to these voiceless, helpless animals. Hitting or beating them may turn them aggressive in self-defense, resulting in more attacking or biting. Treat them with love and kindness and notice how they will reciprocate the same emotion will be reciprocated unconditionally.

Do not violate Animal Rights

Stray dogs of India have co-existed with humans since the Vedic ages. The localities, in which we live, belong to them, as much as to us. In fact, they had been residing in some areas long before human settlements there. Cribbing about the issue, hating dogs, beating them up or dislocating them does not help anyone or resolve the issue in any which manner.

Some Noteworthy Legal Facts and Provisions in this Matter

• Article 21 of the Constitution of India protects all forms of life, including animal life.
• In addition, Article 51A(g) imposes on all citizens a fundamental duty to have compassion for living creatures. The Supreme Court of India has interpreted Articles 21 and 51A(g) to mean that animals have a right to lead a life with intrinsic worth, dignity and security.
• The Central Government has enacted a law specifically with regard to animals, namely, the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. Under the Act, the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 (‘ABC Rules’) have been framed and prescribe comprehensive rules relating to stray dogs, amongst others. Under the ABC Rules, stray dogs are to be sterilised, vaccinated and subsequently released into the same area, from where they were captured. The Rules also provide that dogs who are sick are to be treated, prior to their sterilisation and vaccination.
• The Constitution of India gives precedence to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001 over state and local laws, such as the Kerala State Municipality Act, 1994, under which Section 438 permits the Secretary to order the “seizure and destruction” of stray dogs in a municipal area. In a recent development, Rule 13 of the ABC Rules provides that “in case of any conflict between the Rules and local laws, the provision that is less irksome to the animal shall prevail.”

Punjab and Haryana High Court Verdict on JUNE 8, 2019

It is important to remember that animals and birds have legal rights, just as humans – as stated by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in an exceptional judgment on Animal Welfare Law on JUNE 8, 2019.  It further declared citizens as “guardians of the animal kingdom” with a duty to ensure their welfare and protection.

“Live and let live,” Justice Rajiv Sharma asserted in his 104-page order after issuing 29 mandatory directions for the welfare of “animal kingdom”. The directions, after according the status of legal person or “entity” to animals, came in a case where 29 cows were packed in cruel and brutal manner in two trucks for being exported to Uttar Pradesh from Haryana.

Justice Sharma ruled that animals, including avian and aquatics, had a right to life and bodily integrity, honour and dignity, and could not be treated merely as property. In the court statement, it was given, “The entire animal kingdom, including avian and aquatic, are declared legal entities having a distinct persona with corresponding rights, duties and liabilities of a living person.”

Stressing the need to show compassion towards all living creatures, Justice Sharma asserted animals might be mute but “we as a society have to speak on their behalf”, as per a report by Tribune India.

As per the historic judgment and also as highlighted in The Better India, it would be the duty of the citizens, to ensure the following:

• Animals are healthy and comfortable,
• Well-nourished and in a safe environment,
• Express innate behavior without pain, fear and distress.
• Be entitled to justice, and;
• Safe from being treated as objects or property.

Report abuse

It is unacceptable to remain a mute spectator to animal abuse. In such cases of possible animal abuse, one shouldn’t hesitate to step in, object & report to higher concerned authorities like the police. Since animals are voiceless, we as evolved species need to step forward and protect them to the best of our capabilities.

Allow them to sit or rest in public space around your home

If possible, allow stray dogs to sit in spaces close to your home, if not within your premises. It is indeed unfair when people extend their boundaries illegally by grabbing public land and then prohibit the strays to sit in that space!

Adopt a Stray

Instead of going for fancy & costly breed of dogs, try adopting a stray. They are low maintenance and are as good and dedicated to their family members who adopt them.

The best place to adopt a stray is from either a shelter home or just a roadside. They deserve that chance.  It would be a noble deed as well. However, after adopting them, do not give up or abandon them ever that would be emotionally traumatic for them, leaving them forlorn and disheartened for the rest of their lives.

While strays certainly don’t have the luxury of a cushy life that house pets fortunately have been blessed with, the former is still adaptable to humans and they too respond to human empathy.

Surely a little empathy and respect for another species can reduce a lot of conflict and make the world a happier place. So let’s try and make Mother Earth, a peaceful place for all creatures big and small, with shared thoughts of kindness.

 

LAWS FOR STRAY Dogs..

1. High Court passed an order asking the police to provide protection to dogs and dog feeders and has made it a PUNISHABLE OFFENCE IN CASE ANYONE RESTRICTS, PROHIBITS OR CAUSES INCONVENIENCE TO ANY PERSON FEEDING A STREET DOG OR RESORTS TO REMOVAL OR DISLOCATION OR KILLING A DOG.
2. SECTION 503:- Indian Penal Code 1860, provides that intimidation is a criminal offence which is cognizable. ANYONE WHO THREATENS OR INTIMIDATES ANY PERSON TAKING CARE OF DOGS IS LIABLE FOR CRIMINAL INTIMIDATION UNDER SECTION 503 OF INDIAN PENAL CODE AND CAN BE ARRESTED WITHOUT A WARRANT.
3. SECTION 506:- IT IS A CRIME TO THREATEN, ABUSE OR HARASS NEIGHBOURS WHO FEED ANIMALS.
4. I.P.C. Section 428 and 429 provides SEVERE PUNISHMENT (up to 5 years imprisonment) TO PEOPLE RESORTING TO DISLOCATION, ABDUCTION, AND ACTS OF CRUELTY towards community animals or pets.
5. Delhi Police act 1968, sections 73 to 79, 99 gives special powers to police to take action when an animal offence has been committed.
6. Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act makes all animal cruelty a criminal offence. Fines and imprisonment are both provided for. The Indian Penal Code has similar provisions.
7. The Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001, enacted under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, provide for sterilization and vaccination as a means of stabilizing/reducing stray dog populations and eliminating the risk of rabies; and prohibits relocation of stray dogs, i.e. throwing, or driving them out of one area, into another. An order passed by the Supreme Court of India in this regard, which prohibits removal, dislocation or killing of all dogs.
8. Under Stray Dog Management Rules 2001, IT IS ILLEGAL FOR AN INDIVIDUAL, RWA or estate management to remove or relocate dogs. The dogs have to be sterilized and vaccinated and returned to the same area. Vaccinated and sterilized dogs cannot be removed by the municipality too.
9. Ministry of Public Grievances notification and a similar notification by Animal Welfare Board of India to PROVIDE IMMUNITY TO ANIMAL FEEDERS AND RESTRICT and restrict government employees or bodies such as Resident Welfare Associations SOCIETIES FROM HARASSING PEOPLE WHO FEED OR HELP ANIMALS.
10. The Supreme Court of India gave a similar stay order against removal culling or dislocation of a dog anywhere in India.

*Article 51-A (g) states – ” It shall be duty of every citizen of India to protect & improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures.” So the animal lover is protected under the Constitution.

*Article 19 of the Constitution of India, deals with right to freedom and in this freedom comes the right to profession, occupation, trade and business which means that if someone has taken the caring of animals as his occupation, it is legal and he has every right to carry on with his occupation.

*Article 21 of the Constitution of India states the right to personal life and liberty. If someone wants to feed and provide shelter to dogs, he is at liberty to do so. He has the same right to liberty that the law provides to every citizen of India.

Pets are an integral part of modern-day families

In most modern-day families, pets are a part of the arrangement. Now, imagine moving into a new apartment and being told by your Resident Welfare Association (RWA) that pets are not allowed on the premises. While such regulations are sure to disappoint you, many RWAs have been coming up with clauses in their bye-laws, banning pets. While some RWAs resort to imposing a monthly penalty on people keeping pets, some restrict pets from using elevators. Imagine being in a multi-story building with a pet in such a scenario. Back in February 2015, the Animal Welfare Board of India issued a notice with a set of guidelines for pet owners. Under the law, no RWA or any other society associate can discourage a resident from owning a pet. At the same time, the pet owners’ role as a parent is also to ensure that they keep the pet clean and in good health and away from harming others. According to the guidelines, the residents need to be careful about their pets and ensure that they don’t harm others. While doing so, they must also distinguish between reasonable and unreasonable, lawful and unlawful claims of their pets creating trouble for others. However, such pressure should not let them abandon their pets as it is an offense under the law. In case an RWA asks a resident to give up on their pet, it will be considered an offense.

 

RWAs cannot express ridicule against the barking of pet dogs

 

There could be instances when a pet owner’s dog barks, which might not be liked by the neighbors. The guidelines put this noise as a way of expression and must be tolerated. However, pet parents are advised to help the situation as much as possible to avoid inconvenience to neighbors. A pet is your family member and the RWA cannot dictate the kind, the size, or the breed of pets you can keep. It cannot ban any kind of pet stating that ‘large-sized dogs are not allowed. Also, even if the majority in a general body meeting of the RWA decides against you keeping your pet, this is illegal.

 

RWA can put forth reasonable requests

 

However, the pet owners should discuss with their RWAs ways and means to dispose of pet excreta, etc. The RWA can also allot pet corners and designated areas for such use. Pet owners, caregivers, and dogwalkers must ensure that if the pet defecates on public premises, the owner must ensure cleanliness. “It is clarified that it is for each residential community and complex to decide which method works best for them and solutions cannot be imposed on anybody,” the guidelines read.

No RWA can ask for a penalty or impose a rule or by-law which says that pet owners must clean pet excreta etc. This is because there is no state or Central law which says so. However, pet owners must agree to lawful requests for smooth community living. It is the responsibility of owners to keep their pets healthy and clean. Many neighbors might not like pets and animals, because they may pose to be health hazards if they aren’t clean and tidy. Regular vaccinations and sterilization are advisable.

Ensure to leash your pets in public to ensure others are comfortable around them; neither the pet nor others should be victims in an evitable accident. The RWAs, however, cannot insist upon the use of muzzles. There is a strict penalty against negligent pet parents and aggrieved parties can avail of it.

No RWA has the right to debar pets from lifts though owners if asked, could use alternate working lifts if such a service is easily accessible and comfortable. Also, RWAs cannot insist on a fee from you for making your pets use these lifts.

 

Keeping Pet in an Apartment gives immense happiness to their masters due to their strong bonding & affectionate relationship. Pets act as shock absorbers.

Animal Welfare Board of India says if any pet owners not violating any municipal law are permitted to stay in society.

Being a resident of a housing society, pet lovers should also understand that pets should not cause nuisance and botheration for others.

According to Article 51 A(g) of the Indian Constitution, it is the responsibility of every citizen to behave compassionately towards living creature and animals
Section11(3) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 states that it is illegal for housing societies to pass a resolution disallowing pets.

Here is the list of bye-laws for keeping pets related to the rules with respect to pet dogs and pet-owning residents in the housing societies.

General rules by Animal Welfare Board of India

1. Bye-Laws for keeping pets says that any housing society cannot ban residents from keeping pets.
2. Any sort of ban can not be implemented by society. Even any resolution passed in the General Body meeting will be considered invalid. Any ban on keeping pets cannot be introduced by society by amending Bye-laws for keeping pets.
3. The Sub tenants (the licensee) can have pets in their flat.
4. Society cannot discriminate on the side of the pets.
5. Dog barking cannot be a valid reason to impose a ban on pets.
6. Having pets at home is a fundamental freedom guaranteed to the citizens of India as per the constitution.
7. keeping pets in apartment & residents owners of the pets not violating any municipal law are permissible to stay in the housing society.

Use of lift by pets

1. Pets cannot be disallowed from using lifts of the buildings. As per court ruling dogs/pets are family and so must have access to lifts in any society.
2. Housing Society cannot levy any extra charges or fees to the members who use a lift for their pets.
3. Society has no right to introduce any modification in this regard.
4. Courts consider pets to be a part of the family so pets cannot be stopped from using society lift.

Access to the park and garden of society

Society cannot disallow pets from entering the parks and garden of society.

Use of leashes and/or muzzles

• Society cannot force the members to keep their pets on leash (Strap or chain) or muzzles.

Defecation by pets in the society premises

• There no law in regards to cleaning pets excreta by the master.
• Even if the pet defecates in society premises still society cannot Impose fine to the master.

Bye-laws related to Street dogs

• Beating and driving away street dogs is not allowed.
• Taking street dogs for birth control or other medication-related measures is allowed but they must be released back into the same locality.
• There is no law restricting Indian residents from feeding stray dogs. Feeding stray animals is a compassionate feeling and is supported by the higher courts.
• Beating street dogs is an offense; it comes under the animal cruelty Act as a punishable offense under section 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code.

 

section 428 and 429 are as under:

Section 428 – Mischief by killing or maiming animal of the value of ten rupees. Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal or animals of the value of ten rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.

Section 429 – Mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc., of any value or any animal of the value of 50 rupees. Whoever commits mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless, any elephant, camel, horse, mule, buffalo, bull, cow or ox, whatever may be the value thereof, or any other animal of the value of 50 rupees or upwards, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to 5 years, or with fine, or with both.

Hostility or aggressive behavior towards a pet that may lead pets to embrace aggressive behavior is not allowed.

Duties of Pet owners

Pet owners must understand the meaning of Co-existence and Co-operation. Pet owners are given liberty in many respects but at the same time, it is their duty to be considerate.

Few Precautionary measures

• Pet owners can be requested to clean up after pets defecate or they can be trained to use a specified defecation area. It will help to keep the premises clean and other members’ happy.
• Dogs can be kept under control while taking for a walk in the society’s premises so that others feel safe.
• The timings for access to the Park in the society can be fixed in the General Body Meeting and accordingly informed the pet owners.
• Pet owners should take care that the barking is not causing a nuisance to other members especially neighbors.
• Pets should be kept clean, healthy and vaccinated. Pet owners should be aware that housing society can file a case against a negligent pet owner.

Why should I help stray dogs?

The answer is quite simple. Very often, you find yourself stepping out of your home and being surrounded by stray dogs. Some of them look quite healthy while the others look hurt, famished, or weak. Some of them even display signs of diseases. Should you just pass them averting your eyes and get on with your business? What happens if you do that? The stray dog population increases and in the next few days, you will find only more of them on your streets. This is not helpful to you and your community and more importantly, is unhelpful to these dogs.

A dog’s behaviour is a product of its environment. Previously abused or abandoned dogs will be defensive. It is only natural. Hungry dogs will look for food and hope it comes their way from passersby. People need to have a basic understanding of this when faced with stray dogs.

• These dogs have nowhere safe to go and will roam the streets for food. They may wander into the middle of traffic and may hurt themselves. What’s more, this may cause an accident. Both the stray dog and people are affected in this case.
• Stray dogs will not have a place to mark their territories and there is the possibility that urine or faeces will be all around. Dog waste can be a contaminant in your water and can get sick with the bacteria in the dog’s faeces. They are a health hazard.
• Stray dogs may be defensive because they are afraid. Children may not understand this and may either reach out to pet or shoo them away so that they can play. A frightened dog may react in anger and aggression.
• Stray dogs are considered a nuisance. They may be noisy and may be perceived as a general disturbance in the neighbourhood.

You don’t need to be a dog lover to feel compassion towards them.

Compassion is an innate human tendency. And in the case of animals, we tend to reserve a softer spot in our hearts.

Despite this, there has been a longstanding misconception about stray dogs – that they are aggressive and less fun to have around. The truth is, most of these dogs were once pets, or belonged to a long line of domesticated breeds that have been unfortunate enough to undergo stressful situations like abandonment and ill-treatment.

Avid dog lovers know that even stray dogs deserve the same amount of love, care, and attention as their domestic counterparts. So, when there is an opportunity to care for a stray or an abandoned pet, you can implement these ten useful tips.

Top tips on how to help stray dogs in India:

• Find like-minded neighbours in your community

The first step to help stray dogs is building a safe haven by creating a community of dog lovers. Remember, you are never alone in the fight for a good cause. Searching for fellow dog lovers in your community is actually quite easy. Just observe the behavioural patterns of stray dogs towards people in your neighbourhood, and you’ll likely find quite a few like-minded people who want to help street dogs.

Strays develop a keen understanding of where and when to go in order to receive basic needs like food and shelter. Once you know whom to trust, simply connect with them. Work together to find out and arrange for vets, food, shelter, and more. Remember that just feeding stray dogs is not enough – real caring is when you feed them and also ensure they are sterilized/neutered by an NGO and get their yearly anti-rabies shot  Caring for dogs as a community will greatly help in reducing the stray dog population, give relief to overcrowded animal shelters, and give the stray dogs in your community someone to love and trust and live a healthy and peaceful life even though it is on the streets.

• Arrange for shelter and regular food

Now the real work begins. This is where taking up responsibility comes into play. To function better as a community, you must try and segregate tasks among your fellow dog lovers.  Some may have an idea about the best foods, when to feed and what to avoid feeding stray dogs, while others will be keen on setting up makeshift shelters out of cardboard boxes.

You will also have a young audience who might consider adopting a stray for personal care. Ensure that kids do not pick up pups and take them home for fun. This is cruelty to the animals. The pups are best left with their mother and it is helpful if the mother gets good food at least once a day so she doesn’t have to wander away from the babies looking for food during the day. Once the mother dog stops lactating, then please contact the nearest NGO to get her spayed so there will be no pups in the future and she will stay healthy.

• Adopt and support stray dogs

A healthy dog is a happy dog. Before considering a stray dog for adoption, get the medical check-up and vaccinations completed A quick visit to your nearest vet is essential. If signs of unease in the stray dog persist even after treatment, opt for a second medical opinion.

Bear in mind that you may also come across stray dogs that are in critical conditions, they may look malnourished, show signs of abuse, or are just too old and weak to be adopted. Don’t worry, for such stray dogs, you can get in touch with a permanent home where they can live and be loved just as much as a healthy dog.

• Vaccinate and sterilize/neuter

If your local animal expert or vet identifies some stray dogs that are of appropriate age to be vaccinated, don’t hesitate to get this done. Neutering adolescent dogs is also recommended, and in fact a mandate passed by the Indian government, as it greatly helps in population control and improves their health.

If you are not comfortable in directly approaching a stray that needs to be vaccinated/neutered, contact an NGO that helps dogs. After a dog has undergone the required sterilization/neutering procedure, it may need five days of rest and medical care before being let back in the location from where he or she was picked up. Releasing the stray dog back in the original location is mandatory as per animal birth control laws in the country.

• Raise awareness and learn the laws

Just like humans, dogs have rights too, and that extends to the stray dog population. For years, dog lovers have been fighting for a proper legal system that must be set in place against the unethical treatment of stray dogs. India has one of the world’s best laws in place to protect the rights of stray dogs. You can read this legal framework for stray dogs. Unfortunately, the implementation of the laws leave much to be desired. So it is important that you spread awareness about such laws within your community – refer to legal advice and precedents set by courts in India when in doubt.

A dog’s loyalty is one of its greatest assets, so ensuring their safety and security from unlawful activities will help increase the bond you share with them.

• Prevent and report cruelty

If you happen to come across animal abuse, don’t just be a mute spectator. If you see someone beating or troubling a dog, take it personally and object. Try to educate them instead. Tell them that it is punishable by law to harm or relocate stray dogs forcefully.

Some people in your locality may not have the best of intentions for dogs. Keep an eye out for them and be prepared to solve any conflicts that may possibly arise. In extreme cases, opting for legal advice can prove useful.

• Rescue a lost or abandoned dog

As mentioned earlier, a major part of the stray dog population comprises lost and abandoned pets. It’s not hard to identify them. They will probably have a collar on and be responsive to commands. Sometimes, such dogs can be hostile or defensive due to separation anxiety, prior abuse, neglect and sickness. Here’s how you can help a dog that is lost or abandoned:

• Try to secure the dog and ensure that it receives immediate food, water and medical treatment.
• Use Facebook groups, WhatsApp, or other social media platforms to circulate images of the dog.
• Ask around the area for lost dog posters.
• If you receive any claims of ownership, thoroughly verify it before giving up the dog.
• Try for adoption of the dog if no owner is found.
• If you can’t find its owner and there are no leads for adoption, contact a dog sanctuaryand surrender the dog.
• Organize a Dog Welfare program

One of the best and most effective ways to ensure that the stray dogs in your community are receiving the love and attention they deserve, is to organise a welfare program. These programs can come in the form of adoption drives, feeding drives, neutering, and a push for improving infrastructure and medical needs by local municipal corporations.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Are stray dogs good pets?

Unlike the common misconception that stray dogs are difficult to be house trained, it is actually the opposite. If you are wondering how to take care of street dogs, don’t worry. Stray dogs have a very friendly nature and are extremely adaptive. In addition, they are more immune to diseases and shed a lot less, which can save you a lot of hassle.

• Is it OK to adopt a stray dog?

Adopting a stray dog is a great idea from a humanitarian as well as ease perspective. If you are a canine lover and always looking for answers on how to help stray dogs in India, adoption is the key. Stray dogs make for great pets and can easily be house trained due to their adaptive nature. They have a strong immune system and can be great companions for you and your family.

• Are stray dogs dangerous?

Many people want to help stray dogs but are worried about contracting diseases. A stray dog that hasn’t been taken care of definitely poses risks of infectious diseases. However, once those dogs are well cleaned, vaccinated, and neutered by the medical staff, they will be the reason for joy in your life.

• Is it OK to feed stray dogs?

It is perfectly normal to help street dogs by feeding them as long as you keep a few points in mind. Firstly, make sure that you feed them at a dedicated time and ensure that they are away from any residential areas to avoid canine-human conflicts. Secondly, select separate spots and amount of food to feed them to reduce their dependence on you. Thirdly, be careful of any open wounds on the strays and get them treated to avoid further infections. Last but not least – always ensure that you get the stray dogs spayed/neutered with your local NGO or private vet hospital. Feeding stray dogs without sterilisation is an invitation to suffering and misery for the pups born from intact stray dogs. As a dog lover, you must do the best to ensure the population of stray dogs in your community is controlled through proper sterilisation programs. It is also essential to get the stray dogs an anti-rabies shot annually.

STRAY DOG MANAGEMENT IN INDIA – A SCANTILY  ADDRESSED AREA OF CONCERN 

 

India is the nation that has the highest number of stray dogs and likewise, the nation with the highest rate of human rabies in the world1. The commonly seen stray dogs in India are the ‘Indian Pariah Dogs’ which are noted for their capacity to survive as they are highly immune to a plethora of diseases owing to their evolution. They are mostly people friendly and can make for excellent guard dogs. Still, their basic hunting dispositions pose a considerable threat to humans. Several instances can be coined to address the threat posed by stray dogs to the peaceful living of people in  India. In fact, thousands of citizens are being attacked by them in a single day, which results in caustic casualties. Many people lose their life due to rabis infection inflicted through stray dog bites. Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the ‘Right to life’ to its citizens and makes it mandatory for state and local governments to provide a safe and ailment-free atmosphere. It is the duty of the government to direct the municipal authorities to keep the public places, especially free of stray animals and avert public inconvenience through its sophisticated municipal law. Still, the menace of stray dogs is not a novel issue in India and also not a matter which seems to await a speedy remedy. This study tries to analyse the extent and diversity of threats posed by stray dogs in India and also tries to formulate a plausible pattern of mitigation mechanism which helps curb the menace which doesn’t conflict with the established legal standards.

IS IT TRULY A SCANTILY NOTICED AREA OF CONCERN?

Imagine, while a terrorist attack, one of the citizens losing his/her life in India. How much will be the mediatization done to address the issue. Then, consider about thousands those who lose their lives due to the attack and interference of stray dogs every year in India. The amount of attention given by `media as well as by the governmental mechanisms is obviously meagre. The objective of this idea conveyed is to get an understanding of the worth of a life, irrespective of the mode which takes it. Whatever costs the life of citizens should be addressed and all possible methods of mitigation shall be employed in its eradication. Same is the case with stray dog menace. Apart from rabies majority of stray dogs are infected with parvo infection, mange and distemper which are contagious.² Even a small scratch or bite from a stray dog results in the injection of four shots of rabies vaccination on differently scheduled days. Apart from this, several deaths and serious casualties have reported when the stray dog causes a collision when it runs into the road. Citizens pay road taxes to the government which is primarily responsible to safeguard the life of its subjects. But, in the case of stray dog’s free-access to public roads, the governments are silent as it is a ‘Pandora’s Box’ which has multifarious levels of issues when it comes to the extermination.

In march 2016, the municipal authorities reported to Supreme Court that from 1994 to 2015, 434 deaths happened in Mumbai, due to dog bites. As per reports, 1.3 million people were bitten by stray dogs amid this timespan. Kolkata had a stray dog population of more than 80000 in 2018 and its rising.³ The number of stray dogs in the major cities of India as per 20th livestock census 2016 is as under

These figures are from 2016 census. The current figures of stray dog population in India will never going to disclose an inferior number. World Health Organization (WHO) has identified that 36% of world deaths due to rabies is happening in India. ‘WHO’ has also recognised that dog bites are the root cause for the transmission of rabies to humans contributing up to 99% and added that every year 18000-20000 citizens lose their lives in India due to rabies.⁷ This is way much higher than the number of people killed in terrorist attacks in India.⁸ It still doesn’t seem alarming and an under-noticed issue?

CONVERGENCE OF ANIMAL RIGHTS AND HUMAN RIGHTS JURISPRUDENTIAL PERSPECTIVE

Humans fix the standards related with human rights as well animal rights. The friction is obvious as question related to priority in preservation of these rights arose. Whether the animal rights should be compromised for the protection of human rights or vice versa is an evergreen debatable issue as it varies in the perspectives. Animal rights activists do strongly condemn any action against the elimination of stray dogs from the public as they consider stray dogs as the part of the environment who have the right to exist along with humans and other animals. They advocate that it is the duty of the humans to preserve the rights of animals at first. Humans should avoid exploiting or exterminating animals as the interests of animals are as same as humans. But, never contemplate animals can have rights akin to humans. For example, humans can’t confer right to vote to animals. Still, they can be conferred basic rights such as right to physical, psychological and emotional health, right to adequate food and shelter, right not to be harmed and exploited, right to share the environment with other animals including humans, right to be valued and ultimately the right to live.

While analysing the jurisprudential recognition of animal rights it is just to coin Charles Darwin, who was a scientist and a naturalist. His renowned theory of ‘Natural selection’ has managed to radically alter the perspectives of humans from considering themselves as specially made by God, to being yet another animal evolved from an animal.⁹ Although he wasn’t an animal rights advocate, his theories have strong implications as to the importance of animal rights and standards to be maintained while dealing with animals. Darwin identified shared attributes in animals and humans like anger, terror, deceit, courage and timidity. All these vary among animals just like humans. Also, they possess multiple emotions like desire to be loved, admiral of appreciation, jealousy etc.¹⁰

While the celebrated jurist ‘Emmanual Kant’, considered rationality as the supreme factor in conferring rights to animals. For him, rationality is not alike intelligence. It is the normative capacity of humans to judge an action as good or bad. It is that incomparable capacity to find reasons for their beliefs and actions is what makes humans distinctive of animals¹¹. Although, in an apparent sense it may feel like Kant was against the conferring of rights to animal, but it’s not legit to understand it so. At his period, his views were far progressive. Kant was of the view that animals should not be used as the subject of conducting painful experiments nor they should not be used for any sports. If they must be killed, it should be done quick and with less pain. He adds that humans have duty towards animals which they don’t owe to animals, but to themselves.¹²

Jeremy Bentham is yet another illustrious jurist who is still memorized for his ‘Principle of utilitarianism’. Bentham’s statement ‘The question is not can they reason? Nor, can they talk? But can they suffer?’¹³ was wide popular in animal welfare circles of that time. He considered the capacity for suffering as the sole criterion for conferring rights to animals. While, Henry Stephen Salt was of the view that humans shouldn’t kill their fellow-beings which lower the standard of a civilized society. He added that ‘it is ourselves, our own vital instincts, that we wrong, when we trample on the rights of the fellow-beings or animals, over whom we chance to hold jurisdiction’.

Meanwhile human rights are those universally accepted principles which are common to all humans around the globe. Its characteristic are universality, inalienability, indivisibility, participation, non-discrimination, transparency and accountability.¹⁵ The convergence of Human rights with animal rights stems from the basic fact that humans are yet another animal species. There is no qualitative distinction between human rights and animal rights, but only quantitative. Some animals have properties like consciousness, self-awareness, sentience, sense of time and ability to plan just like great apes. Thus, human rights can also be understood as a species oh animals rights in general view. Thus, the recognition of animal rights and conferring certain rights to animals is a basic facet of human morality and values.

LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND JUDICIAL RESPONSES IN INDIA  PERTAINING TO THE AREA OF STRAY DOG MANAGEMENT 

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960

As per section 11(1) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, which is the basic law which prohibits the ill-treatment of animals, ‘mutilation of any animal or killing any animal (including stray dogs) by using the method of strychnine injections in the heart or in any other unnecessarily cruel manner is a cognizable offence. According to section 11, beating, kicking, over-riding, overloading, over-driving, torturing or otherwise treating any animals so as to subject it to unnecessary pain amounts to cruelty on animals.

Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001 (Amended in 2010)

As per Indian law, stray dogs cannot be killed, beaten, driven away, displaced or dislocated. Only allowed manner is the sterilization procedure envisaged in Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001. It classifies dogs as pet dogs and street dogs. It also directs the procedure for controlled breeding, immunization, sterilization and licensing and also divided duty of street dog management among local authorities and residential associations. It also structures the function of a core committee which is meant to control and care street dogs by sheltering, sterilization, catching, vaccination, etc. The rehabilitation of captured street dogs is also the responsibility of local authorities as per the ABC Rules.

AWBI Guidelines for Feeding Stray Dogs in Residential and other Localities

There are certain guidelines issued by the ‘Animal Welfare board of India’ for the feeding of stray dogs in residential and other localities. It states that the dogs must be fed at places which are rarely used by the residents, causeways, public footpath, streets, pedestrian path etc. Anyone interested in feeding stray dogs in their private space/flat can do as such. It also directs the spectrum of feeding interval and manner to be followed while serving food and water. The Animal Welfare Board is of the view that adherence to the guidelines can positively impact the management of stray dogs, and can prevent them from attacking humans.

Other Legislations and Rules 

The municipality/Corporation is the authority which is responsible for the stray dog management in India. Municipalities are meant to have adequate dog pounds for sheltering stray dogs. Previously, municipalities used to cull these animals brutishly by electrocution, starvation and even by burying alive. After 1992 is became illegal to kill stray dogs. The High Courts of Delhi, Mumbai, Rajasthan, Gujarat and many other states have directed various municipalities to formulate a sophisticated method instead of culling stray dogs mercilessly. The AWBI has established a code of conduct for the municipalities to deal with stray dogs. Failure in its following invites contempt of court proceedings.

Section 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code make it illegal to maim or cause injury to any animal with a monetary value higher than Rs 10.

• It is illegal to throw acid on cows (normally done by vegetable sellers.
• It is illegal to intentionally kill/injure dogs, cats, cows which roam on  the street.
• Anyone who engage in such activities which injure animals including  stary dogs shall be punished by fine of Rs 2000 and/or a jail term of  up to five years.

Judicial response 

Indian Judicial system always stood supportive in the protection of animal rights. In Muhammed Habib v. Uttar Pradesh¹⁹, the court was of the view that ‘the constitution of India doesn’t permit any citizen to claim that it is his fundamental right to take life and kill animals’ and also chapter IV A, Article 51(g) ordains ‘compassion for living creatures’. Even though the court didn’t mention stray dogs as such, the ruling generalized the protection of life of animals, making it applicable to stray dogs also. In Animal Welfare Board v. A. Nagaraja and ors,²⁰ the apex court reiterated five internationally recognized freedoms for animals. They are freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition, freedom from fear and distress, freedom from physical and thermal discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal patterns of behaviour. The supreme court considered these rights as the fundamental principles of animal rights and it stated that these rights are to be ensured for every animal in the nation.

In Animal Welfare Board of India v. People for elimination of Stray Troubles  & Ors²¹ it was held that it is the duty of the corporations to manage the stray dogs  which creates nuisance. The Supreme court urged Animal Welfare Board to supervise  State Municipal Corporations, Municipal committees, district boards and local bodies  and analyse whether they follow existing laws and rules pertaining to the protection  of such Animals.

On march, 2016, the Supreme court directed all states to conduct sterilization and vaccination programme on stray dogs adhering to the provisions of ‘Prevention  of Cruelty to Animals Act’ under the guidance of ‘Animal Welfare Board to control’ its population and also to curb the menace of rabies infection. The apex court was  considering more than ten writ petitions related with stray dog menace like the  welfare and protection of animals& Anr v. state and Ors²² and Rekha Gare v. State of  Govt. of N.C.T of Delhi & Ors.²³ The bench headed by ‘Justice Deepak Mishra’ considered the submission of ‘amicus curiae’ and senior lawyer ‘Dushyant Dave’,  and recognised that proper sterilization as per law and rules are not carried out by  corporations either because of lack of money or due to apathy. The court also directed  state governments to report, matters which indicating compliance of provisions of the  Act regarding stray dogs, with the AWBI within six-week time. Thus, it can be  identified that Indian Judiciary from time to time has recognised the seriousness of  the issue and has directed governments to follow ABC Rules and provision of  Protection of Animals Act.

WHY INDIA CRAWL DESPITE OF HAVING AN EFFECTIVE STRAY DOG  MANAGEMENT BLUEPRINT

It is a wide acknowledged fact through various statistics and reports, India is  home to millions of Stray dogs. Despite of adequate legal mechanism, the actual  management of stray dogs in the country is not appreciable. It can be attributed to the  improper implementation of the statutes which are framed embodying advanced  principles of international legislations. India does have a valid mechanism for  managing stray dogs in the form of ABC Rules as mentioned before. The rules follow  the pattern of European countries which effectively manage stray dog population in  their territory. The rules do recognize the vital role of local authorities and animal  welfare association in the management of stray dogs. It mandates such authorities to  capture and shelter such stray dogs and also to sterilize and vaccine them. After that  the authority should release them to the same locality from which they are captured.  This proven pragmatic procedure is the most effective way in controlling the  population of stray dogs

It is exactly where the nation strain in the management of stray dog  population and menace. It is the utter failure of implementation mechanism which is  responsible for the mismanagement. ABC programme implementation is in dormant  condition in the majority of states. Owing to multifarious reasons, local bodies fail to implement ABC Rules. Lack of infrastructural facilities is the prime cause as the societies primary concerns are much different. India being a developing nation, the management of stray dogs can’t be found in the top priority list of the local administration as well as for the citizens. A very few numbers of stray dogs are being sterilized by the authorities under the ABC programme, where, it is being the only resort to attain a visible reduction in the number of stray dog population as upheld by the Supreme Court and various High Courts. The ABC Rules made by the Government of India is quite effective as it follows the pattern of proved management system around the world.

Still, it can’t be attributed to AWBI as its sole fault. Primarily it is the failure  from the part of Municipalities/Corporations in the periodic monitoring of stray dogs  and in the conduction of ABC programme which lead to their overpopulation. Along  with that, improper waste management mechanism adds to the menace as it helps stay  dogs to survive. An effective system of garbage-disposal can help reduce the  population in the near future. It acts as a prime reason for the failure in the  implementation of ABC Rules too. The streets in India filled with garbage is the  perfect breeding ground for those strays which are not neutered or spayed.

CONCLUSION AND SUGGESTIONS FOR REFORMS 

A proper and sophisticated system of management has to be employed for the  identification of stray dogs an area. The Municipalities/Corporations should maintain  at least an approximate number of the stray dog population and periodic  implementation of ABC Rules which includes vaccination, birth control and  sterilization techniques. Along with this, adhering to the provisions of various  European statutes like ‘The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 of the  United Kingdom²⁵, the states must initiate the establishment of dog shelters/pounds  dedicated to a defined area. This can be used to shelter the captured dogs temporarily  for the time needed to sterilize and vaccinate them. Later, they can be released to the  same place from which they are captured. Dog Lovers and Animal Welfare  Associations should play the pivotal role in the management of stray dog and in the  reduction of their population. Likewise proper garbage disposal mechanism should be  devised in every nook and corner of the nation. Littering of garbage waste helps stray  dogs flourish in numbers as they get adequate food and apt environment to survive.  While trying to mitigate its menace, inhumane treatments against the stray dogs  should also be avoided.

The natural instinct of humans to cull stray dogs which interfere in their  tranquillity and normal life was witnessed in many parts of India. In 2016 at least 120  stray dogs were killed by the people of Kerala in Ernakulam and Palakkad. The  incident even received the condemnation from International Animal lovers. The  Supreme court also took note on the issue and urged to stop such barbaric move against the extermination of stray dogs.²⁶ Same happened in the Kerala’s Manjeri  where people killed 15 stray dogs which were vaccinated and sterilized.²⁷ All such  barbaric acts should be eradicated from a civilized society. The public must be made  aware about the legal consequences of such brutish acts and also should be taught the  humane value of preserving animal rights. Then only the re-occurrence of such  incidents can be avoided. The knowledge on the system of management of stray dogs  can help people deal with them in accordance with law. The  corporation/Municipalities should impart such awareness to the citizens along with  the execution of their responsibilities as per the provisions enumerated in the ABC Rules. Following all such pragmatic practises can ultimately help reduce the  population of stray dogs in India and its interaction with humans, which leads to the  death of thousand every year. Every citizen should be aware of the rights of other  animals in the globe to co-exist and in case of their menace they should only adhere  to the rules and principles established by law. Together, the nation can gradually  reduce the stray dog population by applying such established way of mitigation,  which doesn’t harm their rights and feelings.

Animal lovers know too well the challenges of keeping a dog/pet in a housing society. To ensure that community living is not hampered in any way, there are certain pet rules in a housing society that residents must follow. To start off, the Animal Welfare Board of India has passed certain dog laws to ensure our furry companions are not harassed or treated unfairly. Both pet owners and the management must be aware of laws for pet owners living in apartments. These dog laws and awareness about pet rights help to keep the housing society functions smoothly. This article takes an in-depth look at the pet rules in housing society in India.

Pet laws in India for pet owners living in apartments

• Ban of pets is illegal: The advisory is being issued in pursuance of ‘Section 9(k) Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act,1960’, it is illegal for housing societies to pass pet bye laws that disallow pets, not even on a majority vote by the residents of the society. According to article 51 A (g), it is the duty of every citizen to have compassion for animals and any living creature.
• No discrimination allowed: A housing society cannot ban pets/dogs on the basis of their breed or size. Even complaints regarding a dog’s barking habits cannot be used to ban the pet.
• Use of common facilities: A housing society cannot ban a pet from using common facilities like lifts and parks or impose a fine or special charge for the same.
• Cruelty is punishable: Society cannot create dog harassment laws. Any cruelty towards strays is illegal under the ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. It is also a punishable offence under Section 428 and 429 of the Indian penal code.
• No ban on feeding: No resident can be barred from feeding stray dogs/cats in the locality.
• Protected animals: Certain animals like bears, monkeys, and parakeets cannot be trained or used for entertainment under the ‘Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act’. Most rodents and reptiles are also prohibited under this act.

Role of the management committee 

In view of these bye-laws for pets, society must take care not to violate rules for pets in society. Society can however still create and enforce rules and regulations of keeping dogs to ensure the welfare of the pets and the residents. The following pet guidelines can be implemented by society to maintain peace.

Pet rules in housing society

• Create time slots: Create time slots when the pets can access gardens, parks, and grounds.
• Keep vaccination records: The management committee can ask for vaccination and sterilization records in case issues arise in the future.
• Designate defecation spots: Cordon of areas outside the community premises where the pet owners can take their pets. Furthermore, society can advise pet owners to clean up after their dogs inside society as a courtesy
• Always accompanied by owners: When out of the house and in the society premises, the apartment association should make sure the pet is accompanied by the owner.
• Designate feeding spots: If the residents wish to feed strays, earmark feeding spots that are not close to the residential space or children’s play areas.
• Organise and educate: Educate the residents on animals, especially strays. The management committee can also tie-up with Animal Welfare Organisations to take care of the vaccination and sterilization needs of strays. The strays must be released back into the same locality once the vaccination is administered.

Responsibility of pet owners- rules and regulations of keeping a dog in apartment 

A responsible pet owner is crucial to peaceful community living. While it is important for the pet owner to be aware of the dog laws that keep them safe, they should also be aware of their responsibilities of keeping a pet as a resident in a community. These suggestions should be kept in mind when using common facilities. The following are the rules for dog owners in India.

• Train your pet: Ensure you give your pet ample obedience training, so the dog does behave untowardly in common areas or gets provoked when amidst other residents.
• Familiarize your pet: Society is home to many unfamiliar faces. Make sure your pet knows the surroundings he/she resides in and does not harm a stranger or cause a nuisance.
• Vaccinate on time: All vaccinations must be administered on a timely basis.  For cats, Anti- Rabies and Feligen/TriCat must be renewed every year. Dogs must be vaccinated with Anti-Rabies, DHLPPi, and KC vaccines every year. Medications must be administered in case your pet is suffering from any illness. When your housing society organises vaccination or sterilisation drives for strays, participate and encourage other pet owners to actively take part in the proceedings.
• Follow the rules of society: Before renting or buying a place, make it a point to go through society by-laws and advisories. Adhere to them to avoid hassling other residents. If your society has dedicated time slots for your pets to access parks and gardens, make sure you stick to them.
• Clean up after: The main concern that most people have is cleanliness, so make sure your pet is toilet trained. It is advisable for pet owners to clean up after their furry pal, if he/she has an accident inside the society premises, even if it is not required by law. It is also advisable to maintain the hygiene of your pet for their own well-being and so no one is inconvenienced. In case, you feed strays make sure there are no leftovers once the strays have had their fill.
• Supervise your pet: Even if your pet is well-trained, it is necessary to supervise your pet when in common spaces. Keep your pets on a leash when you take them out for a walk or when they are playing around children to ensure safety. Ensure your pet is not aggressive or hostile towards strays or other animals in the vicinity.
• Be a responsible pet owner: Make sure your pets get ample exercise, so they are not excessively energetic. If your pet is alone for long hours, make sure she/he has ample food, water, and toys. Make sure they do not create a nuisance in your absence.

Our animal companions are an inseparable part of our lives. With a cooperative attitude and thoughtful policies on the part of pet owners, other residents, and management committees, we can ensure the welfare of furry friends and the safety of society.

“Sharing is caring”. This old famous saying has been such an integral part of our lives. As children, experiencing the excitement of opening your lunchbox to share with fellow classmates, was a big part of our school days. And as adults, organising a potluck is a great way to socialize. Extending this hand of care to those in need is an act of compassion – one that is an innate human tendency.

IMPORTANT: Just feeding stray dogs is not right. You must also ensure that the stray dog(s) whom you feed are sterilized/neutered and vaccinated once a year against rabies (Anti-Rabies) and other diseases (DHPPi). This helps in effective population control of stray dogs and prevention of rabies. If every person starting contributing their time or money for these efforts soon we won’t have to see the sufferings of stray dogs on the streets. Their population will decrease dramatically and those on the streets will be in good health.

However, very often we don’t extend this compassion to our furry friends, dogs unless they’re domesticated pets. Strays are left to  scavenge for anything they can get their paws on; it’s a struggle for survival and they often resort to subsisting on scraps, fighting each other for a share. While they may have a strong resistance to diseases, there are still high chances of strays being injured or being emaciated as only the fittest survive and manage to feed themselves.

When we as dog lovers come together and extend a feeding hand to our furry friends, we can help improve the quality of their lives and eventually alleviate the rising concerns of strays turning aggressive in the search for food.

This guide will help you understand the best practices to be undertaken when feeding stray dogs. 

Foods You Should and Shouldn’t Feed to Stray Dogs

Stray dogs will eat anything when hungry, but this leaves them at a higher risk of poor hygiene. If you want to give them a healthier meal, here are some foods you can consider feeding to stray dogs. 

Rice, boiled potatoes, vegetable oil/ghee and roti: A staple food for humans is also a great source of nutrition for dogs. A mix of soft-boiled rice mixed with small portions of boiled potatoes and a little bit of vegetable oil or ghee in water is the simplest and most filling meal you can offer stray dogs. For easier digestion, mince the cooked rotis well before serving.

Throwaway meat parts: Your local butcher will provide meat cuts that typically end up on the frying pan, but cuts not normally consumed by humans like chicken feet, goat lungs and other fish parts, get discarded as waste. Next time, you’re at the butcher, consider buying a kilogram of such cuts (and they can be bought for a cheap rate) to feed the stray dogs in your community. Make sure to cook it properly and to only feed this to older dogs, as the pups will still be teething. The cuts can be mixed in the rice and served as a great source of protein. Plus, the dog gets the bone!

Haldi (Turmeric): You can give stray dogs a lip-smacking dining experience by adding pinches of haldi to the rice mixes.

Store-bought dog food: You can also consider canned dog food and packaged meals, which is a good source of food for stray dogs. You can serve this soaked in water or mixed with boiled rice.

Water: The source of life itself for all beings. Make sure to carry plenty of water bottles and bowls with you while on a stray dog feeding drive especially during summers.  Try to keep a water bowl outside your society or house gates so that any wandering stray dog, cat or other stray animal can at least get a sip of clean water every day. Ensure you clean and maintain the water bowl daily to avoid moss or menace of mosquitoes due to stagnant water.

Foods that you should completely avoid feeding stray dogs are. 

Chocolate: Theobromine is a chemical found in chocolate that, while great for humans, is actually very harmful to dogs. Theobromine can dramatically escalate the blood pressure in the dog’s body, which could result in the failure in the functioning of various vital organs and the nervous system.

Caffeine: Contains similar properties to that of chocolate, so it’s best to keep it out of the reach of dogs.

Dairy products: Most dogs have a digestive system that is not designed to break down the fat associated with dairy products. This renders them lactose intolerant, so avoid feeding milk and cheesy goodies as it could lead to complications such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

Sweetened treats: Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in treats like biscuits, candies and chewing gums. Avoid feeding stray dogs such treats as the xylitol can lead to life-threatening complications such as acute liver disease and blood-clotting disorders.

Onions and garlic: Fast foods may seem like a good option to serve stray dogs as they are really easy to source. However, avoid doing so as such foods could contain mixes of onion and garlic, which when consumed by dogs, can lead to irritation in their stomach, and in severe cases, even result in damage of red blood cells.

Alcohol: This goes without saying. Simply DO NOT feed stray dogs even the smallest quantity of alcohol.

Berries like grapes, cherries and raisins: A natural food that contains the artificial sweetener xylitol. So avoid feeding stray dogs such as berries. If, by accident, the dog has consumed berries, follow these treatment and prevention measures. 

Responsible Feeding Practices

A great way to contribute towards feeding stray dogs in India is to take part in dog feeding drives. However, if you are undertaking a solo project, follow these practices to learn how to feed stray dogs and ensure a safe and responsible feeding procedure.

Educate yourself about the rights of stray dogs: Please read through hundreds of articles that we have written about the legal rights of stray dogs in India. Also, read about common medical issues that you may encounter with stray dogs and ways to treat them safely and effectively.

Use biodegradable/disposable cutlery: Since you’ll be carrying huge amounts of food, it’s a good idea to have disposable plates to serve the stray dogs. When the feeding is done, make sure to dispose of the cutlery neatly in the nearest trash can.  If you don’t have this, use newspaper pieces and ensure you pick them up in a trash bag once the dogs have eaten and dispersed. 

Pick a feeding spot: The survival instincts in stray dogs help them develop a keen sense of understanding where and when to go in order to gain access to food. By picking a safe spot that is fairly away from the daily commute of your neighbourhood, you can ensure a safer and undisturbed feeding routine

Set a feeding time and be consistent: When you start feeding stray dogs in your community, you take up the huge responsibility of making sure these animals are kept in the best of health conditions. Make sure you do not make the stray dog dependent on you for food. So do not overfeed or feed too many times in a day. Stick to a routine and follow it. Stray dogs have to scavenge for their food and the idea of feeding stray dogs is to make them friendly so they are easy to catch for spay/neuter operations, easy to handle when they are sick or injured and also for the yearly anti-rabies vaccination. Set a feeding time, preferably before 7 o’clock in the morning or after 5 o’clock in the evening and make sure you are where you need to be every day. Breaking the routine could be disastrous, as the stray dogs will keep waiting for you not knowing that you won’t be available. Make sure you pair up with a family member or friend for feeding so that if you can’t feed the dog due to work or illness, someone else will be able to manage your responsibility.

Do not pet stray dogs: While you are feeding stray dogs, remember to not treat them like pet dogs. Firstly you won’t take them all home and they may not all get adopted. So for them their life is going to be on the streets and they need to know that it is good to maintain distance from people as not all people like dogs. If you make a dog overly friendly with yourself, the dog may go and jump on an unsuspecting person looking for affection and may end up scaring that person if that person does not like dogs! Inturn the dog can get kicked, beaten, etc. So to avoid such issues, it is best to not pet stray dogs or make them overly friendly like pet dogs. Maintain a good distance from them. Feed them and walk away. Do not whistle for the dogs to come when you bring food! This is a terrible habit that many stray dog feeders have. The dogs associate the whistle to food time and rush from across the road when they hear it. This leads to accidents and deaths. So please leave food for the dogs silently in a designated area. If they are not there, they will surely come due to the smell of the food. Treat stray dogs in a way which makes them confident and smart to survive on the streets. Do not make them dependent on you in any way.

Avoid feeding two packs of stray dogs at once: Dogs can be very territorial in nature, and that especially extends to a pack of stray dogs who tend to settle in a locality they find suitable to rest in. If you are out for a feeding drive, make sure you pick a spot that is very specific to one particular pack of stray dogs. Feeding a pack too close to another one might lead to unwanted aggressive confrontations between the two packs.

FAQs

Is it safe to feed a stray dog?

Feeding stray dogs is a noble and kind act and it helps keep them from starving, especially if you live in an urban area. You just need to keep a few things in mind like the food you give them should be easy to digest, and that fixed routines should be selected and followed regularly. You also need to make sure that you don’t feed two packs of dogs at once to avoid territorial confrontation. It is also important to follow up with local authorities to ensure that the strays are neutered, spayed and vaccinated in order to control their population and prevent the spread of rabies.

Is feeding stray dogs illegal?

The Constitution of India has a law that protects the rights of dog feeders and punishes anyone who threatens them, under Article 51A(g). No one has the authority to stop you from feeding stray dogs, within or outside your society. However, you need to make sure that the dogs you feed are sterilized and vaccinated within a year to control the spread of diseases and prevent population growth.

Should you feed stray dogs?

You should definitely feed stray dogs. All you need to know is how to feed stray dogs. Firstly, you should prepare simple food like rice, boiled potatoes, steamed vegetables and chapatis. Mix them and offer the food along with a bowl of water. Make sure that you do not pet the dog so as to not make them dependent on you. Be careful of the dogs you are feeding and find out if they have been sterilized and vaccinated or not. Feed them regularly at a fixed time and place to avoid confusion and you are good to go.

Can I feed bread to stray dogs?

You can feed your dog bread once in a while, but it does them no good whatsoever. Bread contains whole grains and carbohydrates, both of which are not easily broken down by the dog’s system. It also leads to weight gain in the dog. The best food for stray dogs is boiled rice and potatoes, steamed vegetables and well-cooked meat leftovers. You can also offer them occasional treats like coconut meat.

 

Indian Street Dogs and their ‘rights’

 

Where these street dogs are born is where they belong.

To summarise the content of this page, there is no law that prohibits feeding of street animals, and that citizens who choose to do so are in fact performing a duty cast upon them by the Constitution of India. Persons who are trying to interfere with their effort, or display aggression, can be held liable for having committed the offence described in the Indian Penal Code and criminal intimidation. Moreover, that as per Indian law, street dogs cannot be beaten or driven away.  Please remember that the only humane, legal and scientific way of dealing with street dogs is to get them vaccinated and sterilized under Animal Birth Control Programme (ABC). Under this program, stray dogs are picked up, neutered, vaccinated against rabies and released in the respective areas from where they had been captured, which is in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules 2001 framed, under Section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 and as per the orders of Honourable Supreme Court of India.

In its report, Technical Report Series 931, WHO’s Expert Consultation on Rabies, which met in Geneva from 5 to 8 October 2004, states as follows and endorses that the ABC program constitutes the only effective and humane method of controlling stray dog populations:

“Since the 1960s, ABC programs coupled with rabies vaccination have been advocated as a method to control urban street male and female dog populations and ultimately human rabies in Asia. The rationale is to reduce the dog population turnover as well as the number of dogs susceptible to rabies and limit aspects of male dog behavior (such as dispersal and fighting) that facilitate the spread of rabies. The culling of dogs during these programs may be counterproductive as sterilized, vaccinated dogs may be destroyed”

Animal Birth Control Programme comprises of two components:

• Sterilization of street dogs, which is the surgical removal of their sex organs (specifically, surgical removal of uterus in case of female dogs and surgical removal of testicles of male dogs) and;
• Administration of an Anti Rabies Vaccine, prior to the dogs being released in the same area where they were picked up from.

Advantages of Animal Birth Control Programme are as follows:

ü  Sterilization helps calm the dogs down and restricts their numbers.

ü  There is scientific thought behind restoring a sterilized dog to his original habitat. Dogs are territorial animals. They mark out their territories based on the food available and they do not let outsiders come in. When these local dogs are removed from their territory, other dogs move in to occupy them. These may not be sterilized so the problem continues for that locality. Dog fights increase as any new dog entering a territory is attacked by the dogs already in that area and non-sterilized dogs continue to mate and produce litters. Rabies continues to spread as none of the dogs in that area are vaccinated against it. The new dogs are hostile to the residents so problems of safety continue. A sterilized and vaccinated dog doesn’t breed, they guard their territory from intruders and new dogs, and they become docile and don’t fight with other dogs during the mating season.

ü  Getting dogs sterilized is the best form of welfare we can all do for street dogs, as these dogs will be vaccinated in the process and will not have to give birth to pups anymore, something they can’t otherwise do without human intervention.

ü  Only Dogs above the age of 4 months can be picked up for sterilization/

ü  The right ear of sterilized dogs is notched/cut at the tip as a mark of identification.

• The laws governing Street Dog Sterilization in India

Government of India notified the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 vide the Gazette of India: Extra Ordinary Part II – Sec. 3 – sub section.II dated 24^th December 2001 to implement sterilization and vaccination of street/community dogs to control the dog population.

As per Indian law, street dogs cannot be beaten, killed or driven away or displaced or dislocated, they can only be sterilized in the manner envisaged in the The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001  enacted under the Indian Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 (A Central Act), vaccinated, and then returned back to their original locations.

Rule 6 and Rule 7 of The Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, state as follows:

• Rule 6 clearly envisages that even if the Municipal Corporation thinks it expedient to control street dog populations; IT CANNOT RESORT TO KILLING OR DISLOCATING. It can only sterilize and immunize the dogs, and then leave them at the locations that they had been picked up from.
• Rule 7 deals with the procedure to be followed upon receipt of a complaint. Please also note, the Municipality, cannot just pick up dogs, simply because some persons/administrators don’t like their being around. Even the dogs that are complained about can only be sterilized and immunized, and then left back at the locations that they had been picked up from.

Please note there is a specific bar against dislocating dogs, since the same tends to interfere with and jeopardize the area-wise animal birth control. For the area-wise sterilization program mandated by law, dogs have to be returned back to their original habitat after sterilization and immunization. These dogs then tend to fight off other, newer, possibly unsterilized and unvaccinated dogs from entering their territories, since dogs are highly territorial in nature. Dislocation of street dogs has time and again proven to be counter-productive and only favours the entry of other non-sterilized street dogs into the area, which will not only be unknown to you but also to those who tend to the area’s street dogs, thus raising more cases of man-animal conflict.

Ministry of Public Grievances Circular on Street Dogs to Central Govt Employees dated 26.5.2006

The Stray feeding guidelines by the Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, New Delhi letter no.F.No.30/9/2006-WELFARE dated 26.5.2006, applicable for:

• Treatment of street dogs by government servants: If any Govt. Servant indulges in act of cruelty to animals he will be making himself liable for action under Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Besides, punishment under the Act, he would also make himself liable for action under CCS (Conduct) Rules for conduct unbecoming of a Govt. Servant.
• Resident Welfare Associations, citizens and others:Stray animals are to be dealt with through designated agencies in Govt./local self-government organizations/ NGO’s etc.  Recognised Associations in Govt. colonies may approach such Institutions for redressal of their grievances. All the problems of stray animals have to be handled within the institutional framework available and NO resident association, recognized or unrecognized, shall take recourse to action on their own, either themselves or through any person employed by them like security guards etc.

Moreover, there is no law that prohibits the feeding of street animals. Citizens/animal welfare volunteers who choose to do so are in fact performing a duty cast upon them by the Constitution of India – of showing compassion to all living creatures. Recently, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), a statutory body under Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India has framed exhaustive Guidelines regarding stray dog feeding. These have been placed before and upheld by the High Court of Delhi. The orders passed on 18^th December, 2009, and 4^th February, 2010 by the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, mandate not only that those street dogs will be fed, but that they will be fed in order to confine them to the localities/areas that they belong to. Confining them to the localities that they belong to facilitates area-wise animal birth control, and yearly/annual vaccination.

The Delhi High Court, vide its rulings in 2009 and 2010, have also actually ordered the Delhi Police to protect persons who feed and care for street dogs, and who are often exposed to the ire of ill-informed, ill-advised residents/administrators of those areas.

The Delhi High Court in its judgement, pronounced on 18.12.2009 and 4.2.2010, says that “it is necessary to bring into record that these individuals and families who adopt stray animals are doing a great service to humanity as they are acting in the aid and assistance of Municipal Authorities by providing these animals with food and shelter and also by getting them vaccinated and sterilized. Without assistance of such persons no local Municipal Authority can successfully carry out its ABC programme”.

The Court has proceeded to say that “the local police and the municipal authorities are under obligation not only to encourage such adoption but also to ensure protection to such persons who come forward to take care of these animals specifically the community or neighbourhood dogs so that they are not subjected to any kind of cruelty”, finally, the Court has said “that every individual has the right to live his life in the manner he wants and it is necessary that the society and the community recognize it”.

Also remember that under the Indian laws, animal cruelty is an offence – under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, and Section and 429 of the Indian Penal Code – punishable with imprisonment and fine. Likewise, criminal intimidation, and criminally intimidating animal welfare volunteers is a serious offence under the Indian Penal Code (specifically, Section 503 of Indian Penal Code read with Section 506 of the Indian Penal Code 1860).

Please also read and download the 26th February 2015 dated Circular issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India to all Resident Welfare Associations and Societies on the lawful manner of dealing with street as well as pet dogs can be accessed by clicking here.

Below image is a scanned copy (newspaper advertisement) of a Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) notification, showing the approach of the M.C.D. with regard to street animals (which is based on the law of the land). This is a 2009 dated advertisement and there have since been changes in the names of NGOs working with the MCD on doing dog sterilization work in Delhi:

Here are some very important laws for street animals in India that people should be aware of.

• It is not illegal to feed stray animals.

In spite of the law saying that there is nothing illegal about feeding stray dogs, cases of people being assaulted for feeding stray dogs are not uncommon in India.

• It is illegal to poison stray animals

It is a criminal offence to poison street dogs under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960. But cases like this incident in Kerala where thousands of stray dogs were poisoned are not uncommon in India.

• It is illegal to cause harm to stray animals.

According to Sections 428 and 429 of the Indian Penal Code and the Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960, it is against the law to cause any sort of injury to any street animal. However, cases of stray animals being intentionally harmed by people are not unheard of on a daily basis.

• Government issues IDs to people who feed stray animals.

People who feed strays can get IDs issued by the Animal welfare board of India and yet, they face harassment by others.

• It is against the law to relocate stray animals from their territory.

It is illegal to relocate stray animals under Section 11(1) (i) and Section 11(1) (j), PCA Act, 1960. But a recent incident in Gurugram showed us the harrowing case of stray dogs being beaten up and taken away in sacks from their territory.

• It is illegal to deliberately starve street dogs or take away their shelter.

Under Section 11(1) (h),PCA Act, 1960, it is illegal to intentionally starve street dogs and take away their shelter. However, a lot of people try to create obstacles for people who feed dogs and try to stop them from doing so.

• Capturing them against their will is against the law.

Section 9, Wildlife protection act, 1972 makes it illegal for anyone to capture, incite or bait street animals with the intent of causing harm. Even attempting so is a crime in itself.

• Proper documentation is required for the buying/sale of cattle.

Just because there are stray cows/buffaloes out on the road doesn’t mean anyone can claim them with an intention to sell them. Proper documentation proving that you’re an agriculturist is needed in order to sell/buy cattle.

• It is illegal to display stray monkeys as means of entertainment.

Monkeys are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act and cannot be displayed or owned even if they’re roaming like strays around the city. Even then, it is a common sight to see madaaris roaming around with monkeys.

EDITED & COMPILED BY-DR UDAY KUMAR, PATNA

REFERENCE-ON REQUEST