SC’s stray dog directive sparks concern over ABC programme and animal-student bonds

Way back in 1998, two street dogs were adopted from the Welfare of Stray Dogs (WSD) by a school in Mumbai. Coco and Bongo lived there for the rest of their lives, loved by the students. Caring for these dogs was a living lesson in empathy and learnings were immense... of values of compassion, responsibility and caring.

- By invitation Abodh Aras

Hundreds of schools and educational institutions have community dogs that live peacefully on their campuses. These dogs have been sterilised, vaccinated, named and cared for by the staff and students. The latest Supreme Court order of removing dogs from certain categories of institutions, including schools and colleges, not only frustrates the hard work of the NGOs in the implementation of the animal birth control (ABC) programme but will also lead to a feeling of loss and detachment amongst the students who would have formed strong bonds and emotional connect with the dogs. As most of these dogs have been sterilised and vaccinated, their removal would encourage new, unknown dogs from outside to occupy the vacuum created.