GUEST COLUMN
Sarika Nerurkar
There has been a rise in conflict between stray dogs and humans across the country. We have witnessed a rise in reported dog attacks as well as cases of brutality committed by people on animals.
Last year, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court ordered a blanket ban on feeding after citizens filed petitions owing to the growing stray dog menace in the city. The HC also ordered the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to fine those who fed stray dogs in public places. However, less than a month after this judgement, the Supreme Court stayed the High Court order by recognising the right to life and food for all animals under Section 3 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. It also protected the right to feed as a fundamental duty under Article 51-A (g) that states compassion towards all living creatures as a constitutional mandate.
Kerala sparked a nationwide outrage when they announced a bounty for killing of stray dogs after 21 people died of rabies in 2022. Gory photos of dead dogs were circulated on social media and got international attention when people started campaigning to boycott the State. Experts believe that improper waste disposal and inadequate sterilisation and vaccination of dogs are the primary reasons for these incidents routinely gripping the State.
With petitions taken to court to stop feeding and barbaric stray dog eradication groups, there is an urgency to come up with a long-term solution for co-existence. In the year 2020, at the peak of lockdown, I undertook the responsibility of feeding the stray animals in my area (Santacruz, Mumbai) and fed over 27 dogs and 45 cats every night. It was this experience that allowed me to understand how feeders and rescuers subtly contribute in creating a balance between stray animals and the human population. It also opened me up to ridicule and judgement from people who didn’t like animals and shockingly even those who owned pedigree breeds. There were times I was afraid for the stray animals I fed because people had vowed to cause them harm. So I decided to connect with feeders across Mumbai to know more about their feeding runs and figure out a solution to these problems. I realised everyone was fighting their own battles when it came to feeding their pack of dogs and keeping them safe.
It dawned on me that Mumbai is still privileged with a healthy network for feeders, rescuers, animal activists, veterinarians, animal ambulances and the support of the BMC for population control. We couldn’t say the same for other cities and towns in the country. So, I met feeders and rescuers from Dehradun, Ranikhet, Bengaluru, Chennai and Chandigarh to understand how their work impacts the lives of these stray animals and society at large.
In Dehradun, I met a young duo, Abhishek and Anjali, who rescue distressed animals and transport them on their scooter because of a lack of animal ambulance services. Erum started safely neutering dogs and rescuing animals in and around a 50 kilometre radius from Ranikhet after she heard and witnessed animal brutality cases. Lionel and Thamizh (Chennai) take care of the health and well-being of dogs in and around Marina Beach and are also pivotal in organising adoption camps. Yogita and Wilson (Chandigarh) rescue injured animals and nurse them back to health and also get stray dogs neutered with the help of their local veterinarian. Manjari (Bengaluru) and Malan (Mumbai) feed over 300 dogs regularly who have no access to food, and Venkat (Chennai) has been responsible for over 300 dogs, 250 cats and a 100 odd birds to get their daily meal for the last 22 years. Anju goes to villages on the outskirts of Bengaluru to educate and raise awareness about stray dogs and also helps facilitate their adoption within the village.
Each of these feeders and rescuers are supported through their own income and small donations. Not only do they take care of the health and well-being of these voiceless creatures but they are also constantly mediating between them and the society. They keep a check on the animals that need to be neutered and vaccinated, and are also very aware of the behaviours and characteristics of those in their pack.
The stories I came across when I was travelling for this project inspired me to make it a pan-India photo story that will help raise awareness about the work of feeders and rescuers and propose it as a solution to the stray animal-human conflict. It also helped me conclude that we need to recognise the efforts of feeders and rescuers, and amplify it by providing support in terms of food, medical infrastructure, access to animal ambulances and creating awareness among the general populace. It is safe to say that stray animals who are under the care of feeders are less likely to be aggressive and are neutered to control a rise in population. Feeders and rescuers, under the guidance and laws provided by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) can mediate co-existence in areas of rising conflict. It is imperative that we take care of the voiceless around us because they are the most susceptible to cruelty and injustice.
(The author is a freelance video producer and documentary photographer. Views expressed are personal)
