Human Rights Vs Dog Rights: Reclaiming the Public Space

Ordinary Indians don’t appreciate how powerful a few lines or words can be when laws get made. They can change how lives are led. Twenty-five years ago, for instance, when animal birth control rules were modified, a clause that they cannot be shifted from an area made dogs permanent fixtures that over time multiplied into large packs. If any got aggressive, people stopped sending children down to play or for early morning walks.

Laws in India are easily made but when they have to be revoked it is slow and in slices. A line here, a few words there, and you almost miss a fundamental shift in the equation. In the just-passed Supreme Court order on stray dogs, not only was there no relief granted to those who were in appeal over an earlier order that allowed relocation, but a line was added that 'demonstrably dangerous dogs' can be killed. Earlier, the state of affairs was so absurd that even a dog with rabies wouldn’t be killed. It had to be captured and kept in isolation till it died. That very aggressive ones can be killed is a big departure because now no dog has blanket immunity and security of humans has again become paramount. And if entire packs get together to maul a child or an old woman in an area, then it is hard to see why this prescription wouldn’t apply.

The dose of rationality will still not solve the problem. The takeover of public spaces by dogs has been absolute because their population built up unchecked for so long. Eventually even more drastic measures will probably be required. But at least now municipalities and civic bodies, when faced with a complaint, haven't the excuse of saying they are prohibited by law from doing anything. The Indian system will continue to function as it always does. In the beginning there will be some token momentum, large-scale sterilisation drives and capture. It will soon be followed by callousness and incompetence. The system does however act when forced and when dogs terrorise an area, people have something to lean on.