Compassion with Responsibility & Pragmatism
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Compassion with Responsibility & Pragmatism

January 25, 2025

Stray dogs have found themselves in the limelight again, this time over the ban on feeding them at Kukkarahalli Lake, a favourite spot for Mysureans who walk there in the mornings and evenings. 

The ban, temporarily lifted after protests from stray dog-lovers, has reignited the recurring conflict between dog feeders and morning walkers. It’s clear that unless we adopt a pragmatic approach, free of emotional extremism, this issue will persist.

This debate has polarised people into two camps. On one side, some morning walkers sent me dramatic e-mails claiming stray dogs could turn into child-hunting predators. 

On the other side, dog-lovers inundated me with 96 e-mails, a kind of digital harassment, I felt. The same e-mails they had sent to the Vice-Chancellor, University of Mysore.

Disappointingly, 93 of these e-mails were identical — a cut, copy and paste campaign that lacked personal stories or practical solutions.

As a dog-lover myself, I found this approach disheartening. Genuine advocacy requires more than forwarding pre-written e-mails. 

Ironically, most of these e-mails from  ‘Concerned Citizens’ came from non-Indian citizens’ e-mail IDs, mostly from the West.

This prompted me to wonder how these concerned foreigners’ own countries manage stray populations. After all, in many Western countries, stray dogs are notably absent.

A report by the World Society for the Protection of Animals highlights how stray populations are controlled across Europe:

Cull and control: Five countries, including Albania and Ukraine, rely on culling by municipal                     contractors.

Catch-Neuter-Release (CNR): Practiced exclusively in Greece and to some extent in countries like Italy and Bulgaria, this approach has faced criticism, with pet owners dumping unwanted dogs in areas where strays are fed.

Shelters and euthanasia: Most European nations hold strays in shelters for a statutory period (3 – 60 days), after which unadopted dogs are euthanised.

In the United States, a country known for its love of dogs, has euthanised an estimated 3,90,000 stray dogs in 2024.

Similarly, in England, about 21-25 dogs were euthanised daily in 2024. And in India….? ZERO —                Not a single stray dog has been euthanised.

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 The irony is palpable. Many foreign individuals advocating for stray dogs in India might overlook the practices in their own countries.

Maybe it’s time to cut, copy, paste and send the e-mails they sent to our Vice-Chancellor with the threat of legal recourse to their own administrators. 

Feeding stray animals might seem compassionate, but when done without structure or foresight,              it creates unintended consequences. 

Stray dogs fed in the same location often become territorial, viewing the feeding area as their domain.

This territorial behaviour can escalate into aggression toward people or other animals entering                 the space.

When strays are fed in groups, they form loose packs, reinforcing their territorial instincts.

This increases the risk of conflict, especially in public spaces with high foot traffic, such as parks or school zones.

The Animal Welfare Board of India has issued clear guidelines for feeding stray dogs responsibly:

1. Feeders are encouraged to participate in sterilisation and vaccination efforts because the dogs   trust them.

2.  Feeding should be avoided near areas where children play or people take walks or that are                       otherwise crowded.

3.  Feeding spots should be kept clean, with all leftovers cleared to avoid littering.

4. Feeders should maintain records of the dogs’ vaccination and sterilisation status to share with authorities.

Unfortunately, very few feeders adhere to these guidelines. Feeding strays without taking responsibility for their long-term welfare — such as sterilisation and healthcare — can exacerbate the stray dog issue rather than alleviate it.

India holds the dubious distinction of having the world’s highest stray dog population, the most stray dog attacks and the highest number of rabies deaths. 

While we have eradicated diseases like polio and managed to control AIDS, rabies remains a persistent threat. Managing stray dogs is essential to achieving the World Health Organisation’s goal of ending rabies by 2030.

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This isn’t a binary debate about feeding or not feeding stray dogs. The solution lies in collaboration between dog-lovers, morning walkers, municipal  authorities and NGOs:

1.  Promote sterilisation programmes: Fund organisations like PFA (People For Animals) and local animal welfare groups to ensure widespread sterilisation and vaccination.

 2. Designated feeding zones: Authorities should establish specific feeding areas, away from public walking routes and busy streets, with designated feeding times.

 3. Educate and regulate: Dog feeders must be educated about responsible feeding practices and strict rules should be enforced to ensure compliance.

4. Encourage adoption: Promote indie dog adoption through awareness campaigns. Every adoption reduces the number of strays on streets.

5. Public awareness: Conduct programmes to educate communities about dog behaviour and the importance of coexistence. 

While the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act of 1960 rightly emphasises humane treatment, the Karnataka High Court has made it clear that feeding stray dogs should not hinder public safety. 

In 2023, the Court observed: “Duty is cast upon such citizens (dog feeders) to ensure that the feeding activity shall not cause hindrance or health hazard to their fellow citizens.”

It’s essential to strike a balance. Compassionate acts should not compromise urban harmony or              public safety. 

Extremist attitudes on both sides — whether it’s unyielding dog-lovers or overly alarmist walkers — only serve to escalate tensions.

For now, a practical step would be for the University of Mysore to designate specific feeding zones and times, keeping these areas away from walking paths and busy periods. 

Meanwhile, both walkers and feeders can direct their energies toward pressing the Mysuru City Corporation to better fund sterilisation and vaccination programmes. 

Ultimately, the goal should be to reduce the stray population through humane methods while fostering coexistence.

It’s not about choosing between dogs and people — it’s about ensuring a better, safer environment for both. Compassion must always come with responsibility and pragmatism.

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