The Supreme Court on 16th November 2022 imposed a stay on the October 20th, 2022 order of the Bombay High Court, wherein, the latter imposed restrictions and penalties on the public feeding of stray dogs. By passing such a stay order, the Honorable Supreme Court has bestowed immense powers on a minority group of activists / stray dog feeders who place their objective of feeding strays even above the life and physical security of ordinary citizens. 

In the society that I live in (Lodha, New Cuffe Parade, Wadala), this order has conferred a cloak of protection and invincibility on activists whose purported mission in life is to stay rooted to their cause of feeding strays even if it comes at the cost of the safety of the Elderly, differently abled and infants.

Despite numerous instances of the rapidly proliferating strays threatening and sometimes attacking residents, damaging personal property and sullying public property meant for the use of residents, no action can be taken by the beleaguered residents! All because the SC has ruled that these strays cannot be relocated. The municipal corporation, builder, building society management – all of them are helpless because stray dog feeders armed with the SC order stand like a brick wall in the face of any move to relocate these aggressive animals. Any opposition by beleaguered residents, who have sunk their lifetimes earnings into trying to provide a safe home for their kith and kin, is met with a diatribe by not just these activists but also by institutional boards like the Animal Welfare board.

The rapid proliferation of these stray dogs is on account of the fact that they are being provided with catering services by stray dog feeders. Dogs are essentially foraging animals who love the act of having to look for food and finding the same. They were not meant to be the beneficiary of catering services!

This man versus animal conflict is the creation of activists who are trying to subvert the law of nature by trying to convert foraging stray dogs into community pet dogs. In this process the rights of a majority of citizens are being held to ransom. The actions of a few have been given an impetus by providing them a legal armor which in increasingly leading to dissonance amongst citizens in residential societies across India. This whole stray dog feeding movement is converting a Man versus animal conflict into a man versus man conflict in residential societies. 

This is a plea to the Supreme Court to take cognizance of the developing dire situation and amend the orders that it had passed so as to do justice to both animals as well as common citizens. While not stopping the feeding of stray dogs, it could build in safeguards such as making dog kennels mandatory in gated communities.  Dogs could be fed in these kennels thereby ensuring that common citizens do not feel threatened by them. The Supreme Court urgently needs to rule on this matter and pass orders that will not be partisan to any group of citizens. 

KINDLY NOTE THAT THIS PETITION DOESNT INTEND SOLICITING OR COLLECTING ANY MONEY FROM PEOPLE WHO SIGN OR SHARE THE SAME.