Question

Should we be cruel to stray dogs? What type harm can they do to us?
pls answer ​

Answer 1

Explanation:

On July 2, 2020, Down To Earth (DTE) published ‘Killing with compassion: Why feeding dogs in public places must stop!’, a writeup published in our ‘Blogs’ section. The authors, Shireen Bhalla and Abi T Vanak, expressed the view that stray dogs should not be fed by people in public places.

The response to the write-up triggered a maelstrom of rage at Down To Earth and the authors.

Here are some of the replies that we received, followed by a response from the authors:

(I)

This is with regard to the article ‘Killing with Compassion’ by Shireen Bhalla and Abi T Vanak in DTE, dated 02 July 2020.

It is incredible that DTE has published this under ‘Wildlife and Biodiversity’. And I am dismayed despite your runner at the end that proclaims the views expressed are the authors’ own and don’t reflect DTE’s. Why publish such a half- a**ed self-proclaimed research article that promotes more cruelty to animals, is blatantly anthropocentric and irresponsible!!

A mere smattering of ecological terms does not a eco-friendly informed article make!

“There is an ecological concept called the ‘carrying capacity of the environment’. It is the population of a species that can be supported by a particular environment given the resources and habitat.”

This in the time of ecological disasters and environmental holocaust and a worldwide pandemic brought on by human actions on the ecosystem?! I understand the authors misunderstanding and misrepresentation of human beings as the sole “natural part of our urban environment” but for humanity’s sake, please remove this article and desist from encouraging apathy and active promotion of cruelty under the guise of giving space to scientific pseudo research.

Do not promote anthropocentricism. We’re already paying the price for it. And a magazine that calls itself Down to Earth needs to definitely get down to earth on this. ASAP.

Jeyakirthana

Urban Dweller

(II)

I joined because of one ridiculous article regarding stray dogs…not a single dog will bite you until unless you provoke them.

Seriously feeding a stray dog in a public place is wrong? So where is the place to feed them?

Both writers are useless if they don’t know about their rights and nature. Dogs are territorial by their nature and feeding them is the right of each and every citizen.

Don’t create any nuisance.

Try to spend one day on the road without food and water and you will get your answer.

In this article, are you talking about shelters? So please tell us how many shelters are there for dogs in India?

There is no proper govt hospital and you are talking about shelters?