Compassion and empathy towards stray dogs needed

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: The world is based on a symbiotic form of living. Ancient and mythological books found in many religions across the world teach humans to love and live alongside other species of the planet. Unfortunately, man constantly fails to hold the balance which has resulted in environmental degradation spelling a doomed future for the upcoming generation.

The simple acts of kindness are replaced by hateful gestures and actions. Call it ignorance or just lack of information, people sheltering and feeding strays have always been a victim of harassment from uninformed neighbours and anti-social elements.

Animal cruelty is treated as a serious crime under Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and Section 429 of the Indian Penal Code and is punishable with a fine and imprisonment. Section 503 IPC and Section 506 IPC prohibit criminal intimidation and criminal intimidation of animal welfare societies and volunteers.

“I have been living in my apartment complex for over five years now and the residents here are just terrible people, they have taken out reflector collars from our street dogs, have disposed of their water bowls and filled them with trash, have disrespected my family and fellow stray feeders at countless occasions and have given very cruel suggestions, such as hitting the dogs with sticks and stones to stop them from entering the apartment complex during heavy rains adding on to the prevalent cruelties that already exists,”

Swagatika Priyadarshaini, a techie and a pet parent of an in-house street dog, along with six other strays that live outside her complex .