The Free Dogs of India

> It is a sin, it should be a sin, to feed stray dogs, and we should save numerous dogs if we had legislation making every stray dog liable to be shot. Even if those who feed stray dogs consented to pay a penalty for their misdirected compassion we should be free from the curse of stray dogs.

> Humanity is a noble attribute of the soul. It is not exhausted with saving a few fish or a few dogs. Such saving may even be sinful. If I have a swarm of ants in my house, the man who proceeds to feed them will be guilty of a sin. For God has provided their grain for the ants, but the man who feeds them might destroy me and my family. The mahajan may feel itself safe and believe that it has saved their lives by dumping dogs near my field, but it will have committed the greater sin of putting my life in danger.

Stray dogs are a public health hazard. There were more than 2 million cases of street dog bites in 2022 in India. Tens of thousands of people catch rabies from dog bites every year. The dog lovers from the privileged strata of society prevent the authorities from doing anything to actually solve the problem. The brunt of the pain is borne by the poor and defenseless.