Ignorance and Insensitivity towards Stray Dogs

Recently, there was news that a minister of the Punjab State Government in India spoke about the ‘menace’ of stray dogs in the state and how to get rid of this ‘problem’. He stated that all the dogs should be caught and sent to North-Eastern states of India or China where, he said, people know it well what to do with dogs! Apparently, he was referring to the fact that in China people kill dogs and eat them. This statement comes as a rude shock from a Minister who is supposed to be committed to the welfare of the people and the helpless animals. This shows the insensitivity and the ignorance of the government, and ultimately, of the society, towards helpless and harmless animals. This also shows the scant respect that they have for life. Life is as valuable to an animal as it is to a human.

Instead of talking of capturing and sending these helpless dogs to elsewhere, they should accept it as a challenge and spay and neuter these dogs so that their population is controlled. An effort should be made to provide homes to these animals and citizens should be encouraged to come forward and adopt them. Even shelters could be made for them where they are given food and water and are taken care of. We have to understand the fact that animals are our responsibility and we are entitled to treat them with dignity and give them their rights. We are not a barbaric society, are we? Animals came here before us and the Earth belongs to them more than it belongs to us.