The Delhi High Court has recently issued directions due to an ongoing dispute regarding the feeding of street dogs in residential colonies. A single Bench composed of Justice Pratibha Singh has issued these directions due to a petition filed by three animal lovers. During the hearing, Advocate Abhik Chimni, who represents the petitioners stated that there was mass resistance between the petitioners and residents when the petitioners were feeding the stray dogs. Advocate S.K. Pandey, who represents the Residents Welfare Association, stated that according to the case Citizen for the welfare and protection of Animals and Anr. v. State and Anr called for specific spots for feeding dogs to be made.
From viewing this court order of 2009, the Court stated that in each colony of Delhi, the Animal Welfare Board of India had to consult with the Residents Welfare Association, Area SHO, and the Animal Welfare Organization working in that area, to find suitable sites for feeding dogs. The purpose of feeding these stray dogs is to keep them confined to a particular place, to subject them to sterilization, vaccination, and re-vaccination. The Animal welfare board was given four weeks to locate these spots. These feeding spots should also not be a place where elders and children roam around due to safety concerns.
The Delhi Police was also ordered by the Court to ensure that no harm was done to the volunteers who were feeding dogs in these localities. The Court had added that as soon as suitable sites for feeding the 41 dogs were identified, these organizations would feed dogs only on those identified sites and at hours specified by Animal Welfare Board.
