The year 2022 has been a roller coaster ride for Indian pet owners. While pets have rarely been part of public discourse, this year, the government, resident welfare associations, and even courts were out to get our canine friends and their unwitting owners. ‘Muzzle them’, ‘don’t take them out for walks’, ‘don’t feed them’, ‘don’t get this breed’—at one point, it really felt like authorities had declared a full-blown war on India’s dog population
In short, our beloved pets were sent to the doghouse.
Earlier this year, the Supreme Court approved feeding stray dogs at designated spots. RWAs went on to seek intervention from the Animal Welfare Board to identify feeding areas and check for stray aggression.
Street dogs have their own marked territories, and there can be multiple such areas in just one colony, making it challenging to identify appropriate feeding spots. While the RWA suggestion isn’t wrong, aggressive implementation is.
RWAs must understand that they cannot target dogs—whether pets or strays—with a vendetta, and they have no right to make owners feel alienated in their own surroundings.
Also read: RWAs of Indian cities have declared a war on dogs. Pet lovers are on the back foot
Dogs aren’t villains
Yes, the stray dog menace cannot be ignored, but why has so little been done to tackle it, and why have we made such little progress in sterilisation? Perhaps because complainers don’t have a person to target and cannot possibly question the government.
And it is not just Delhi: Authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) also went all out to impose shattering restrictions on pets and their owners. Gurugram, for one, imposed a ban on 11 breeds, while a fine of Rs 10,000 was slapped on Noida residents in case of untoward incidents involving pet dogs. Indeed, certain breeds—like the Siberian Husky, St. Bernard, or Alaskan Malamute—are not meant for India’s scorching heat and shouldn’t be allowed as accessories for the elite. But to expect someone to part with their existing ones is taking it a little too far.
While associations must check their unnecessary hostility, pet lovers must also be considerate of other citizens. Owners should focus on training their furry friends better. The onus cannot be put entirely on the government or RWAs while the pets run amok without proper behavioural coaching.
Even after training their pets, owners cannot sit back and relax. Training motivates a dog. It allows you to form a bond with your pet and helps them become comfortable around humans. Positively trained dogs are more patient, self-controlled, and behave consistently in various situations. As for strays, we cannot deny how they help guard our localities without asking for anything in return. Minding our own business and refraining from lodging frivolous complaints is the least we can do for them.
But this year wasn’t entirely bleak for dogs. It was refreshing to see owners and organisations conduct adoption drives after two years of a pandemic-induced lockdown. It reminded me of the time I adopted my beloved pet, Pumba, back when dogs weren’t villains.
Views are personal.
(Edited by Zoya Bhatti)