Courts and Commissions Show Their Concern for Dogs

It is becoming a slow phenomenon where a series of incidents involve stray dogs biting people. High courts are now stepping in to safeguard the right of strays while ensuring the safety of people.

It all started when on July 20, an 11-year-old boy at a farmhouse in Jaipur was mauled by an 18-month old pet Pit Bull. It triggered the uproar in the media over the lack of measures to check the growing population of stray dogs.

Stray dogs are a major concern across the country with Kerela and Delhi high courts passing judgments only last month, ordering a more humane attitude towards the stray dogs upholding their rights. In Rajasthan, however, the issue involves how to implement safeguards for dogs, including pets, and making them safer for the public.

On July 1, the Delhi High Court gave directions to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to forge Guard and Dog partnerships in consultation with the Delhi Police Squad so that dogs could be trained as guard dogs yet remain friendly to residents.

To prohibit the cruelty against stray dogs, the high court noted that citizens were increasingly defying the law and added that community residents must get their vaccines against rabies every year.

Source: India today