Editorial: Stop virtue signalling

Many hapless people are bitten by dogs everyday, contracting rabies, and dying in agony. Yet these tragedies barely stir the consciences of celebrity dog-lovers. They root more for the rights of animals than for humans

Neither the critics of the Supreme Court order on relocating stray dogs nor their children will ever find themselves alone on a street being chased by menacing stray dogs. The ardent advocates of animal rights seem to be ignoring the harsh reality that the menace of street dogs is a full-blown public safety crisis in India. Reports pour in from across the country every day about hapless people, particularly children and the elderly, becoming victims of stray dog attacks. Aggressive canines roaming freely on the streets are a nightmare for workers returning home late at night or children from poor and middle-class families playing near their homes. It is only the rich and celebrities, who live behind fortress-like gates and rarely set foot on a street where stray dogs run wild, who can afford to be unaffected by this problem. They are the insulated elite. Ironically, their voices alone are heard more loudly in public discourse, and they often get away with their convoluted sense of activism. But, for a majority of Indians — the middle class and the poor — the threat from stray dogs is a brutal everyday reality. They run for their lives when chased, sometimes falling and injuring themselves. Many are bitten, contracting rabies, and dying in agony. Yet these tragedies barely stir the consciences of celebrity dog-lovers. They root more for the rights of animals than for humans. The more assured you are about the safety of yourself and your family from the life-threatening menace of stray dogs, the more vociferous an advocate of animal rights you become.

The safe place for dogs is either a home where they get all the care of pet parenting or a shelter supervised by municipal authorities. In no developed and civilised country do street dogs or other animals roam freely on roads, terrorising people. Public safety takes priority. A clear distinction must be made between caring for a pet and letting an untrained, unvaccinated animal roam the streets, endangering the lives of common people. In 2024, over 2.2 million dog bite cases were reported, though the actual number must be much higher. Rabies is primarily transmitted through stray dog bites and claims numerous lives. India accounts for 36% of global deaths. Taking suo motu cognisance of growing stray dog attacks, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of stray dogs from the Delhi and NCR region within eight weeks. The court mandated relocating strays to shelters and prohibiting their release back into public spaces. The apex court’s ruling balances all aspects and is good for dogs and humans as well. However, social media was awash with lectures on compassion and animal rights — as if removing dogs from streets to safe shelters amounts to cruelty. What the celebrity animal rights advocates do in India is essentially virtue signalling — grandstanding on causes that cost them nothing while others bear the burden.

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