It’s illegal to relocate strays, say activists

GURUGRAM: The disagreement between dog lovers and those who feel

stray dogs

are a menace is a never-ending one.


The former often treat and care for strays like their own family, while the latter believe residential areas should be free of stray dogs. TOI got in touch with some activists and NGOs to look for a possible middle ground. At the MCG-appointed

NGO

, Friendicoes, which looks after stray animals in the city and operates two hospital-cum-shelter homes in Gurugram, one each in Basai and Garhi, staffers said their contract stipulates that they capture stray dogs from different parts of the city, sterilise, vaccinate and treat them if they have any ailment, and then rehabilitate them.

“We do not have any provision to give the strays for adoption or keep them permanently at the shelter. Once they are sterilised, vaccinated and treated, we release them back in their original habitat,” said Vinay Kumar Singh, who works with the NGO. Animal activists reiterated the same and said the guideline issued by the World Health Organisation also prohibits cruelty against strays.

Explaining the guidelines, Ambika Shukla, trustee of People for Animals — an animal welfare organisation — said it is illegal to remove or relocate dogs (see box). “Often, the anti-stray residents blame dog lovers for the existence of strays in an area. They feel the strays inhabit an area because they get fed there. However, research shows just the opposite. It is the nature of an animal, especially dogs, to be comfortable in an identified territory,” Shukla said. “When a dog is fed by humans, they become docile towards them. Plus, a fed animal will never attack anyone. The only time they get a little aggressive is during the mating season. However, a sterilised dog won’t even pose that threat. So, it is perfectly fine to feed strays,” said Shukla.

Meanwhile, other animal activists stressed that strays don’t pose a problem to humans unless they are instigated. Therefore, awareness programmes must be organised in residential areas to inform residents about how to approach stray animals. They should also be asked to notice behavioural changes in strays.