06/02/2026
Good morning,
I want to begin by saying this very clearly, this issue is not about choosing between humans and animals. It is about how we, as a society, choose to solve a problem. A problem that can be solved with empathy, responsibility, and common sense.
I speak today as an animal lover, yes, but also as a citizen and a taxpayer. I live with four dogs. I feed stray dogs every day. I have built small shelters for them during winters, and I work closely with animal welfare groups and NGOs. But I also understand that not everyone feels the same way about dogs—and that understanding is important.
There are people who have been bitten. There are people who are afraid for their children, for the elderly, or for persons with disabilities. Some people are allergic to dogs, and others are simply scared. These fears are real, and they are valid. A society that dismisses fear only deepens division.
However, the question we must ask is this: is fear best addressed through cruelty? Is violence a solution, or is it a sign that systems have failed?
The presence of street dogs in Delhi is not the failure of citizens. It is the failure of infrastructure. When a city lacks adequate animal shelters, trained veterinary professionals, organised vaccination programs, and large-scale sterilisation efforts, the problem does not disappear—it multiplies. Removing dogs without addressing these gaps does not solve anything; it merely shifts the problem elsewhere.
I respect the Supreme Court deeply, but I believe the direction of the current judgment feels incomplete. Focusing on removal without focusing on long-term management is neither humane nor effective. In fact, experience shows that when dogs are forcibly removed from an area, territorial gaps are created, often leading to the arrival of more aggressive and unvaccinated dogs. Sterilised and vaccinated dogs actually help stabilise neighbourhoods and prevent new strays from entering.
We also need to understand dog behaviour better. Dogs are not inherently violent. Most aggression comes from hunger, fear, repeated harassment, or past abuse. Unfortunately, we see far too many cases in India where animals are beaten, poisoned, burned, or killed brutally. This is not just animal cruelty—it reflects a deeper breakdown in how we view life itself. Violence does not create safety; it creates trauma, for animals and humans alike.
At the same time, this is not an argument to ignore human safety. Population control is necessary. Vaccination is essential. Sterilisation is non-negotiable. But these measures must be scientific, humane, and systematic. Not everyone has the time, ability, or emotional capacity to engage with stray dogs, and that is perfectly understandable. This responsibility cannot rest on individuals alone—it must be taken up by the government.
I truly believe there is a middle path. A path where animal welfare and public safety are not in conflict. But that path requires accountability. As tax-paying citizens, we must ask our government to invest in proper shelters, certified veterinary doctors, and sustainable animal management systems. Clearing streets without creating infrastructure is not governance—it is avoidance.
I am not asking everyone to love dogs. I am only asking that we choose solutions rooted in humanity. A city is truly safe not when it removes the voiceless, but when it protects everyone within it. Compassion and safety are not opposites. With planning, responsibility, and empathy, peaceful coexistence is possible.
Thank you.
