Observing that animals have a right under law to be treated with compassion, respect, and dignity, the Delhi High Court has asked the Animal Welfare Board of India to consult with Resident Welfare Associations and designate areas for feeding community dogs in the national capital. Delhi HC stated that it is the moral responsibility of every citizen to protect the animals and also directed the AWBI to ensure that every RWA constitutes an Animal Welfare Committee.
“Community dogs have the right to food, and citizens have the right to feed them, but in exercising this right, care and caution should be taken to ensure that it does not impinge upon the rights of others or cause any harm, hindrance, harassment, and nuisance to other individuals or members of the society,” said Justice J.R Midha in an order.
The court's order came in a case of dispute between two residents of a locality on the issue of feeding stray dogs. One of them sought direction to restrain the other from feeding street dogs near the entrance of a property. Later, a settlement took place between the two and a designated place was established for feeding the canines.
The high court laid guidelines regarding the feeding of stray dogs and said that dogs are territorial and they have to be fed and tended to at places within their territory that are not frequently visited by the general public. The guidelines also stated that any person having compassion for stray dogs might feed them at their private entrance or driveway of their house or any other place not shared with other residents, but nobody can restrict the other from the feeding of dogs, until and unless it is causing harm or harassment to anyone.
The court said there is a need to spread awareness that animals have a right to live with respect and dignity and asked the AWBI to carry out an awareness campaign in association with the media.
"We have to show compassion towards all living creatures. Animals may be mute, but we as a society have to speak on their behalf. No pain or agony should be caused to the animals. Cruelty to animals causes psychological pain to them. Animals breathe like us and have emotions. The animals require food, water, shelter, normal behavior, medical care, self-determination," the court said. Noting that street dogs are sometimes subjected to abusive treatment by some residents because of the misplaced beliefs that they might carry the rabies virus, the court said it is the responsibility of the community residents to get their dogs vaccinated against rabies every year to prevent the spread of rabies.
Post a comment