Food for strays: Law, compassion and duty of locals

N India, or Bharat, the dog is more than an animal. We often forget this at our own peril.

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Yudhishthira refused to enter heaven without the dog who accompanied him on his final journey, despite Lord Indra's insistence. Before you cast the first stone at a stray dog, remember that if not the Constitution, compassion must make you lower your arms. BBMP's recent proposal to feed stray dogs, at a cost of Rs 3 crore per annum, has drawn much criticism.

Bengaluru-based animal rights activist Arun Prasad, in an interaction with TNIE, says the government is responsible for the safety and welfare of every living being under it, including animals. He cautions that dogs may not bite, but animal lovers surely will, if BBMP fails to implement its feeding initiative strictly and effectively.

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BBMP's recent initiative to feed stray dogs has drawn a lot of backlash. Where do you stand on this?

We have to understand the 'Doctrine of Parens Patriae', which holds the government as the father figure of society and responsible for the safety and welfare of every living being under it, including animals. In 2016, the government implemented Solid Waste Management (SWM) rules. Rule 15B necessitates door-to-door collection of waste, both wet and dry, preventing people from leaving food out for neighbourhood animals. In 2023, the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, were amended to Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. Under Rule 20-1, the feeding of neighbourhood animals became the responsibility of localities, the local Resident Welfare Association, and local authority. It is our duty. Rule 20-2 talks about conflict resolution in case of disputes arising out of feeding local strays. In such cases, a committee should be formed with the local authorities, including police, to identify feeding spots to place food. Since most strays are territorial, they should be fed within their territories. Compassion is a fundamental duty of every citizen of India.

Who is the custodian of stray animals?