Today on 27th February 2021 The Delhi High Court has issued directions for feeding stray dogs in an ongoing dispute between the RWA and the dog feeders of a residential colony in Vasant Kunj, South Delhi.
The petition was filed by three animal lovers, of Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, against the Residents Welfare Association for creating hindrances in feeding the street dogs of their area.
The High Court in its order has directed the feeders, the Animal Welfare Board of India and the office bearers of the Residents Welfare Association to identify a spot to be used for the purpose of feeding and taking care of street dogs in their area.. Once the spot is decided, the dogs are to be fed only on that spot and no hindrance is to be created in doing the same.
The Court also observed the Delhi high court order of 2009 where the court had clearly given directions to the Animal Welfare Board of India, in consultation with the Resident Welfare Associations, to identify suitable spots and sites in the colonies for feeding of street dogs. In its order, the Court had stated that in each colony of Delhi, AWBI should identify, in consultation with Residents Welfare Association, Area SHO and the Animal Welfare Organization working in that area, the spots or sites most suitable for the purpose of feeding dogs.
Well the decision of the honourable court is definitely in favour of the feeders and the dogs and fixing of a feeding spot in the residential area may be a good solution in the present case.
But otherwise fixing spots for feeding dogs may not be a very workable and practical solution in other parts of India where in every nook and corner there are stray dogs. As dog is a territorial animal hence fixing one spot or two spots for all the dogs of a residential area may not be feasible. Also the RWAs and most of the dog haters who are in majority will try to fix a spot which is isolated and far from human habitat. They always give the plea that the dogs will bite children and the elderly which is not so true. Dogs never bite without provocation and what one fails to understand is that don't the caregivers /dog feeders have children and elderly living in their homes too. How come they don't find dogs a threat to them, their children and their elderly????
Well if at all the spots have to be fixed they should be done keeping in mind the place of the dog. The territory in which he lives. He can't be forced to leave his territory and go to a common feeding spot. Hence, spots should be fixed keeping in mind the convenience and territory of the dog and not human convenience.
The feeder generally feeds dogs in the dog's territory and not vice versa. The dog will die of hunger but will dare not venture into another dog's territory. Well if it's a pack of dogs living together then it's a different situation.
No feeder loves to be abused or harassed for feeding the dogs in a hostile area. But do people ever realize that why the feeder still feeds the dogs in spite of being insulted and humiliated and sometimes even assaulted?????
Because the dog doesn't change his territory. And the caregiver cannot see their four legged friend go hungry. So fixing spots may not be a workable solution at all in many cases.
It's time the municipal corporation of Delhi created the right kind of awareness about dogs. All this hatred and fear towards dogs needs to be busted. Had they implemented the ABC program in a systematic and scientific manner then probably all these ugly situations could have been easily avoided. Dogs are neither a threat to the children nor to the elderly. But by most of the RWAs and the dog haters the man's best friend is being portrayed as the man's worst enemy. This mind set needs to change.......
To read the judgement in detail kindly go on the link below:
If still no positive measures are taken by the various animal welfare institutions both govt and non govt in creating right kind of awareness about dogs, dog rules and the ABC program then we will very soon see more of such petitions flooding the courts of India and more man-man and man-dog conflict which is already on a rise. Unfortunately this is happening in a country where once animal was fed, respected and cared for........