Published in Dwarka Express on 11.3.2023

Stray dog menace cannot be ignored as a stray incident. A recent incident of a preschooler being mauled to death by stray dogs in Hyderabad draws everyone’s attention to the status of the stray animals in India. Legally, there is enough of protection to animals in India and as per Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, it is the duty of every person having care or charge of any animal to take all reasonable measures to ensure the wellbeing of such animals and to prevent infliction of unnecessary pain and suffering. This is applicable for all types of animals.

In any civilized society, we may find two kinds of animals, one is stray and the other is pet. Pet care is given more impetus than what they deserve, perhaps. Pet owners go to the extent of getting themselves recognized as pet parents. In fact, they spend more time and money than what they could afford even, treating the pets as their children. Of course, it’s not questionable as there are many emotional aspects attached to pet care.

We are more concerned with the stray animals. Feeding stray animals is not a sin but a generosity and we do understand. For animal activists, food, shelter and safety of the animals are matter of  animal right, which also cannot be disputed. However, what needs immediate attention is the harm and hardships caused by stray animals to an innocent person who become a victim of animal attacks, most of the time by stray animals. Animal care is as equally important as that of human safety. There cannot be any compromise on either of them. When animals behave or react aggressively, perhaps in their natural animal instinct or due to any occasional provocation, the repercussions are disastrous. Most of the attacks of stray animals on human beings happen due to the basic animal instinct. The Hyderabad child was killed because something must have induced them to perhaps a possible attack or threat. In most cases, it happens to be a defensive act with isolated cases of behavioural dysfunctions

As per 2019 census, total population of stray dog and stray cattle in the country was more than 2 crores. The next census is due in 2024. This is going to be much higher and incidents of attacks and loss of lives also are not going to stop. Animal welfare organisations while ensuring compassion to stray animals, also must ensure that children are safe from ferocious animals.  Timely anti rabies vaccination, adoption of stray dogs by pet owners, public shelters and charity homes, timely intervention by sanitary workers including sterilisation will address the problems to a larger extent