Adopt Stray Dogs, Feed Them At Your Houses, Not Anywhere Else, Bombay HC Tells Animal Lovers
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has ordered that feeding of stray dogs shall not be done at any place except animal activists' own homes and those violating this should be penalised.?
"Such feeding and care shall be undertaken by anyone only after formally adopting and registering these dogs with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). A penalty shall be imposed for feeding stray dogs out of the houses of feeders," a division bench comprising justices Sunil Shukre and Anil Pansare said.
File case against those obstructing officials?
The court also directed authorities, including the police, to register cases against those obstructing civic officials from acting against menacing stray dogs.
"The authorities are free to capture strays and remove them from the spot on the complaints by the citizens. They will also initiate an awareness programme by circulating the contact details of the 'dog control cell," the court said.
Are dog feeders to be blamed for stray dog attacks?
The Bombay HC order comes at a time when the stray menace in several states has reignited the debate over who should be held responsible for dog attacks on humans.
Many have argued that animal lovers who feed strays should be held accountable as the dogs stay around where they get food and pose a threat to others.
Dog feeders, on the other hand, argue that dogs also deserve humane treatment, and feeding them is the least society can do.
What SC said on dog feeders
Last month while hearing a plea on the stray dog menace in Kerala, the Supreme Court had orally suggested that people who routinely feed stray dogs could be made responsible for their vaccination and also liable to bear the costs if those animals attack people.
Stray dogs, a problem?across India
A recent survey by LocalCircles found that six in 10 Indians feel that stray or pet dog attacks are common in their area.
In the survey, 56 per cent respondents said stray dog attacks were common while 31 per cent said pet dog attacks were also common in their area, district or city. In contrast, 28 per cent respondents stated that "such attacks by both stray and pet dogs are nonexistent or rare" while 11 per cent gave no clear response.
Only 32 per cent of the respondents felt that most of the pet owners train and restrain their dogs so that they don't cause harm to others.
According to feedback received, most people who keep pets do not spend the time and resources to train them and effectively restrain them when they are in public places. Complaints like big pet dogs with long leashes being walked by someone who cannot effectively control them are common and lead to risk for others in public spaces.
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