Putting Human life first
By: Dr. Satyawan Saurabh
The recent Supreme Court decision directing the removal of stray dogs from every locality and shifting them to safer places is a significant and long-awaited move. The court clearly stated in its order—“human life and safety first”—which marks a decisive stand in the on-going debate on this issue. This decision is not only legally significant, but also a reminder to society that the time has come to move beyond emotional debates and adopt practical solutions.
Estimates of the number of stray dogs in India vary from state to state, but some reports suggest that there are about 15 to 20 million stray dogs in the country. This number is not just a statistical fact, but an alarming one—because their presence is directly impacting public safety, hygiene, and health.
Stray dog attacks have been on the rise over the past decade. Data from the Union Health Ministry shows that about 17 to 20 lakh people are bitten by dogs every year. A large number of these are children, as their height and vulnerability make them easy targets for dogs. What is serious is that the consequences of these attacks are not just limited to injuries; there is always the risk of fatal diseases like rabies, which claim thousands of lives every year.
Animal rights organisations argue that killing stray dogs is inhumane and they too have a right to live. This view is correct, but it can be recognised only as long as it does not endanger human life.
The court has also struck a balance and said that dogs should not be killed indiscriminately, but rather they should be shifted to safer places or shelters. The question here is—are our municipal bodies and panchayats ready for this challenge? Because just giving orders is not enough; its implementation on the ground will require adequate resources, trained staff and a planned strategy.
This decision of the Supreme Court also presents a legal framework. The court has clearly stated that if any organization or person obstructs this process, strict action will be taken against them. This means that now the court has set a clear priority in the debate of “human life v/s animal rights”.
Also, the court has given the responsibility to the municipal corporations and panchayats to not only remove stray dogs, but also make proper arrangements for their care. This order is also a test of the capability and honesty of the administrative system.
Notably, Rabies is a major health problem in India. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 59,000 people die of rabies every year worldwide, a large proportion of which come from India. The disease is transmitted by dog bites in 99% of cases and once symptoms appear, it is not possible to cure it. Therefore, preventing dog bite cases is the most effective measure.
In addition, packs of stray dogs often search for food in garbage dumps, spreading many types of infections and filth. This also affects efforts such as urban sanitation and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.
This problem is not just administrative; society also has a big role to play in it. People often feed stray dogs outside their homes out of religious or compassionate feelings. While this sentiment is commendable, it sometimes leads to dog packs and aggressive behaviour.
If this food is thrown out in the open, it attracts more dogs and increases the danger to the local population. Society needs to understand that compassion and responsibility must go hand in hand. If we really want the well-being of these animals, it is important to take them to shelters in an organised manner and run a sterilisation programme.
To control the number of stray dogs, a large scale sterilization campaign will have to be conducted. Adequate number of dog shelters should be built in every town and panchayat, where they get food, water and medical facilities.
It is important to teach people how to maintain a safe distance from dogs and not to feed them in the open. Garbage lying in the open is the main attraction for stray dogs, which needs to be controlled. Monitoring committees can be formed at the mohalla level which keep an eye on the activities of the dogs and inform the administration.
Many countries have adopted successful models to tackle this problem. For example, in Thailand, the government and NGOs worked together to run sterilisation and vaccination programmes, which drastically reduced the number of stray dogs and attacks. Turkey, under its “Street Dogs Project”, kept dogs in safe places and implanted microchips in them to track them. India can learn from these models and develop solutions for its local context.
The problem of stray dogs is not just a matter of law and court, but it is a social issue related to human safety, health and morality. The Supreme Court’s stance of “human life and safety first” gives the right direction to this debate. Now it is the responsibility of municipal bodies, panchayats and citizens to find a solution to this problem together.
Compassion does not mean that we ignore the danger, and safety does not mean that we become inhuman. A balanced, humane and practical approach is the way through which both humans and animals can remain safe.
(The author is a poet, freelance journalist and a columnist)
