Compassion for stray dogs, but not for humans?
VB Editorial | August 15, 2025 |
The Supreme Court’s recent order to move stray dogs from residential areas to shelters has set off a storm of debate. For families who have suffered because of dog attacks, this comes as a much-awaited relief. But for animal rights groups, it is a hasty and misguided move. Rahul Gandhi too has spoken in defence of the right of stray dogs to live freely. Many argue that mute animals deserve to coexist alongside us.
But here is the difficult truth: compassion towards animals cannot come at the cost of human safety. Delhi alone records nearly 30,000 dog bite cases every year. Across India, more than 10,000 cases occur daily. According to UN estimates, India accounts for 35% of the world’s rabies deaths, with 18,000–20,000 lives lost every year. Most of these victims are children under the age of 15. Behind these numbers are heartbreaking stories — parents losing young ones to a disease that is entirely preventable.
The danger is not imaginary. In big cities like Delhi and Bengaluru, stray dog attacks are as frightening as the threat of criminals after dark. A lone youngster returning home late is as likely to fear a pack of dogs as an armed thief. In urban areas, stray dogs thrive on leftovers from hotels and roadside stalls, becoming bolder and more aggressive. They no longer live on the margins of society; they have moved into its very heart, sometimes turning ordinary nights into scenes of terror.
The tragedy is compounded by India’s weak public health system. Rabies vaccines and medicines are often unavailable, especially in rural areas. People tend to ignore small scratches or minor bites, not realising how fatal rabies can be if untreated. Last year, an inter-state kabaddi player, Brijesh Solanki from Uttar Pradesh, died after rescuing a puppy that bit him. He dismissed the injury as minor, did not take preventive medication, and paid with his life three months later. A para-athlete in Odisha, Jogendra Chatriya, also died in similar circumstances, along with another victim bitten the same day. Such deaths are not rare; they are frequent, painful reminders of systemic neglect.
Of course, this does not mean stray dogs should be eliminated. They have always been part of India’s ecological balance. But letting them roam freely in such large numbers, in a country with poor healthcare access, is an open invitation to disease and death. Without proper shelters, sterilisation programmes, and medical facilities, compassion alone becomes dangerous idealism.
And there is another question we rarely ask. Why do we show endless sympathy for stray dogs but not for the 15 million children who live homeless on India’s streets? Why do people see God in dogs but not in the hungry eyes of children sleeping at railway stations? Why is the killing of dogs considered barbaric, but the lynching of humans in the name of cows or religion explained away in silence? When society values the life of a stray dog more than the dignity of its children, we must pause and ask what this compassion really means.
The Supreme Court’s concern reflects the reality that cannot be ignored. Unless every child and citizen can walk safely on the streets, unless rabies medicines are available in every hospital and pharmacy, it is dangerous to romanticise the free movement of stray dogs. Compassion for animals is noble, but compassion that forgets humans is misplaced. In the end, compassion for stray dogs, but not for humans, is no compassion at all.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
