New Delhi: Rajiv Kukria’s WhatsApp erupted on Monday. A cacophony of pings upon pings—more than a hundred alerts on his society group. But it wasn’t about water or electricity or petty crime. Instead, the discussion was centred around one heated topic: The removal of stray dogs from Delhi-NCR.
“People aren’t debating or discussing the issue anymore; they’re fighting, accusing each other. This has gone far beyond a simple argument between dog lovers and haters,” said Kukria, a resident of Greater Kailash.
The Supreme Court’s recent order to remove all stray dogs from public spaces across Delhi-NCR and house them permanently in shelters has polarised residents. And RWA (Resident Welfare Association) WhatsApp groups have become the battleground.
On the one side are those who welcome the Supreme Court’s decision, citing the growing threat that stray dogs pose to public safety. And on the other are animal lovers who don’t understand why street dogs have to pay the price for the government’s apathy and inefficiency in rolling out sterilisation programmes. It’s pitted neighbours and friends against each other.
“It has become extremely difficult to even go for a walk, whether it’s an early morning stroll or a late-night pass through the neighbourhood, because of aggressive strays,” said 46-year-old Vishal Sinha, a resident of South Delhi.
On the other hand, animal lovers have even gone as far as sheltering stray dogs inside their homes to protect them from Municipal Dog Control (MDC) vans deployed to pick them up.
The debate has taken a highly emotional turn, with some residents drawing controversial comparisons.
“Men are regularly committing crimes against women. Do you put all men in shelters?” asked 36-year-old Seema Taneja, a resident of East Delhi.
Also read: Stray dogs have the right to live. SC order can trigger a wave of animal cruelty
The divided residents
Sharing a video of a young girl lying in a hospital bed, screaming and crying in pain, Rajpal, a resident of Greater Kailash, questioned dog lovers in the society WhatsApp group about the pain and problems local people witness because of stray dogs.
“Who will take responsibility for the pain and medical expenses of those bitten by stray dogs. People are even ending up hospitalised for months?”
However, as soon as he finished typing his message in the group, he was bombarded with questions and accusations.
“They are part of this planet, too. Hold the government accountable for doing its job, but don’t harass these voiceless animals,” said one resident.
Amid the heated debate, another resident shared a message urging people to protect the stray dogs as vans arrived to pick them up.
Caught between the dog lovers and haters are some residents who are trying to find a balanced solution without taking sides, but even they remain divided on the issue.
“What the Supreme Court has ordered is neither practical nor the right way to address the problem,” said 29-year-old Sukanya Sharma in her Dwarka society group. “Dog lovers also need to understand the importance of other residents’ safety, instead of taking offence at every discussion involving stray dogs.”
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Government inaction
Kukria questioned the feasibility of the directive, pointing out the inefficiency of the system and the prior arrangements of the government.
“In eight weeks, officials can’t even conduct three proper meetings on any issue. How do we expect them to execute such a large-scale operation?” he said.
Positioning himself as neutral, he also criticised what he described as the aggressive behaviour of certain dog lovers and NGOs, which he believes has worsened the situation for local residents.
He explained that despite the existence of guidelines and designated feeding spots for stray dogs, many residents ignore them and continue feeding dogs indiscriminately.
“In the name of being dog lovers, people are feeding dogs leftovers from their houses. When dogs start expecting food from random places and don’t get it, they become aggressive and may attack people,” he said.
And he’s not the only one caught in the middle of an emotionally charged and poorly managed situation. The issue has now taken over WhatsApp groups and neighbourhood communities across the city.
“As always, the government failed to do its job, and this time, not only the public but also the stray dogs are paying the price. The government’s inaction has divided people and forced them to turn against each other.”
(Edited by Theres Sudeep)
Mass culling of stray dogs is the only solution to this menace.
The Union government must notify stray dogs as vermin. This would enable citizens to take the initiative and rid the streets of violent stray dogs.