DELHI HC - COMMUNITY DOGS HAVE A RIGHT TO FOOD AND CITIZENS THE RIGHT TO FEED

The Delhi HC recently held that every community (street) dog has the right to food, and every citizen has the right to feed them. However, while exercising such rights, caution should be taken to ensure that such an act does not impinge upon the rights of others or cause any nuisance to other individuals or society members.

The Court also observed that every community dog is a territorial being and issued guidelines for treating and feeding them. Justice JR Midha directed that feeding shall be done in designated areas by the Animal Welfare Board of India in consultation with the Resident Welfare Associations. Additionally, law enforcement authorities shall ensure that no harassment is caused to citizens feeding stray animals and implement the AWBI Guidelines on Pet dogs and street dogs dated 26th February 2015.

It shall be the duty and responsibility of the jurisdictional SHO to ensure that peace and harmony are maintained amongst the residents and community dog feeders. There shall be no harassment to any caregiver or community dog feeder from feeding community dogs in the manner specified.

The dogs have to be sterilized and vaccinated, and returned to the same area. If any of the street dogs are injured or unwell, it shall be the duty of the RWA to secure treatment for such dogs.

The Court issued a set of guidelines for the better treatment of the community dogs and formed a Committee to implement these Guidelines.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal