Feeding Strays and Keeping Pets in India

Important Rules and Guidelines

- Darshak Shah

With apartment complexes becoming the norm and more and more activists and residents actively engaging in taking care of their pets and stray dogs, it becomes important for people to understand their duties, rights, and responsibilities for the welfare of their pets and their neighbors.

Residents often find letters taped to their apartment's notice boards that delegate (extremely weird) laws related to pet dog owners, residents, pets, street dogs, and end up submitting to it mostly because they're unaware of the by-laws or guidelines already in place.

GUIDELINES FOR THE ONES WHO TAKE CARE OF STREET DOGS

Now there are many who take care of the ownerless, stray dogs selflessly they often feed them leftovers or prepare food for them, offer them warm dog clothes in winters and silently take care of them.

Even if the Indian Constitution advises peaceful coexistence among all creatures and lists it as one of our Fundamental Duties [Article 51(g)] to show compassion to all living creatures, things are not as simple as they look!