The Feeding of Stray Dogs in Mumbai
By Laaya Lobo
In the last decade or two, the feeding of stray animals has grown tremendously. So much so that, as of February 22, 2023, the Bombay High Court ruled in favour of feeding stray dogs, citing that it is more beneficial than harmful. However, the flip side of this is seen in cases like the one in Hyderabad that occurred on February 21st, where a five-year-old child was mauled to death by a pack of stray dogs.
My grandmother, Elizabeth Lobo, is a resident of Versova, a place filled with feeders. She said, "It becomes a mess. No matter how much they (the feeders) clean, there will be bits of food here and there. It becomes very unhygienic. The dogs could also carry diseases, which is not safe for the children who play around." In Versova, even organisations like the rotary club set out at 7 a.m. to feed the stray animals in the area. The local authorities have also created a "dog feeding zone" near Yaari Road, yet on none of my visits did I see any feeding happening at that spot
Photograph by Anandith Earnedath
Rishika Shah, a resident of Raheja Sherwood in Goregaon East, recounts how as a child, the stray dogs in her building terrified her so much that neither she nor her friends could walk without an adult. "We were too terrified to even walk to the gate alone. We had to ask the security guard to walk us with a stick." The number of stray dogs in the society drastically increased once a lady in the society started feeding them. Unlike other feeders, she didn’t take up the responsibility of ensuring the dogs were sterilized, causing an explosion in their numbers. After a while, the residents protested, and stray dogs were banned within the society's gates. However, this led to another issue: the dogs would collect in the narrow lane outside the building gates. One evening, a dog attacked a child, completely unprovoked. The child sustained multiple injuries, and the incident increased the fear of residents as well.
Another drawback of feeding that was pointed out was that it tends to make the animals more violent and greedy. In one instance, a woman claimed a dog snatched a bag of meat she was carrying. However, the feeders disagree and say that, in fact, satiating the animals' hunger makes them more peaceful. They say that when the animals are fed, there is no need for them to hunt or scavenge, thereby domesticating them and making them friendlier towards humans. Additionally, due to the fact that most feeders feed both stray dogs and cats, it has created harmony between the two otherwise hostile species.
During the pandemic, while the world was on lockdown, stray dogs were the last thing on people's minds. Because of the circumstances, private and public organisations were unable to continue sterilisation drives, allowing for a rapid increase in the number of stray animals throughout the city.so much so that it has started causing major problems. Mrs. Arwa Lokhandwala, who lives in a high-rise complex, noted that the number of stray animals has increased so much that children cannot play even within the complex any more. Due to the pause in sterilization, the number of dogs increased from three in 2020 to approximately 30 today, and because of the feeders in the building, that number keeps growing. These animals are getting difficult to catch and sterilise, and it has gotten to the point where they are being harmed. Puppies come under cars, which in itself is tragic but also causes problems for the driver. When the residents complained to local authorities, they received no help.
Mrs. Shagun Jain, of Vashi Sector 29, said, "All the dogs gather here all the time, especially at night, and I cannot even go for a walk. I have to remain in my building compound. What if one of those dogs gets overly excited and jumps on me? I’m old and live alone. It's very dangerous."
An elderly man from Navi Mumbai also blames the authorities for this increase in stray animals. He says, "feeding dogs is not a problem. The root cause is why there are so many dogs. Because the government is not doing its job. They haven’t neutered dogs properly, so then the number wouldn’t be so much so then they won’t have to be fed. Why can’t they make kennels like there are gaushalas?"
In some cases, the local authorities have been of immense help in making sure feeders like Bansi Kamodia of Churchgate can continue feeding the stray animals in her neighbourhood without any disturbances. However, Mr. Ashish Nayyar, who lives just a few roads down and has been feeding the stray dogs for over 25 years, had a completely opposite view of the authorities. He said, "Don’t waste your time; they don’t help at all; we have to do everything ourselves."
It is not a matter of whether it is right or wrong to feed stray animals. As Abodh Aras, the Chief Executive Officer of The Welfare of Stray Dogs, an animal welfare organisation in Mumbai, says, "One must practise mindful feeding." Animals must be fed away from bustling areas; they mustn't be made dependent on humans; people need to be compassionate to humans and animals.