Some people say they’re ‘animal lovers,’ but they’ve confused it with “I once liked a puppy photo on Instagram.” The latest Supreme Court directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR has brought every armchair activist, resident welfare society chairperson, and self-appointed ‘protector of civic order’ out of hibernation.

And in this ongoing urban drama, the most vocal characters are often termed as the “dog haters”, on the other hand, the work cynophobia basically means an extreme and irrational fear of dogs.

advertisement

“Last week, an animal feeder friend of mine put down bowls of food and water for the street dogs she has been caring for for years. Ten minutes later, a man in a crisp white shirt and an ego two sizes too big decided to run his SUV over them”, says Vihan Dixit, Animal feeder in Malviya Nagar.

“‘Oh, I thought they were a traffic hazard,’ he said, beaming like he had just been awarded Employee of the Month. Apparently, destroying a dog’s dinner is now a LinkedIn-worthy achievement”, said Dixit.

Kritika Juneja a feeder in Noida told us that she witnessed a lady in the neighbourhood who said, “You know, feeding dogs makes them aggressive. Also, it’s unhygienic.”

Kritika adds that this from the same person who’s fine with some poeple spitting paan juice down the stairs.

“There’s a thin line between animal love and basic humanity, and some folks have tripped over it so hard they’re now permanently camped on the wrong side. Feeding a hungry dog isn’t just an act of kindness, it’s the bare minimum of decency, the same way you’d give a glass of water to a thirsty delivery boy or hold the door open for someone. But apparently, when it’s a dog, decency is suddenly “illegal,” “dangerous,” or “not my responsibility.””, says Advocate Niharika Kashyap.

“The SC’s order may have intended to address safety and health concerns, but it’s been hijacked as the golden ticket for those who simply want the streets emptied of anything that doesn’t come with a price tag or parking permit. These are the same people who complain about barking at night but think their own honking in traffic is a soothing lullaby,” says Rupesh Krishna Sharma, animal feeder in Delhi, now living in Mathura.

So here’s an unsolicited life tip, if you see someone feeding a stray, maybe don’t turn it into your day’s drama highlight. You can dislike dogs quietly, the same way I dislike coriander, without flattening it with my car.

Because when we start celebrating the removal of beings who depend on us, it says far less about the dogs and far more about how, somewhere along the way, we’ve traded compassion for convenience, and kindness for bragging rights in the office WhatsApp group.

– Ends

Published By: vaishnavi parashar Published On: Aug 12, 2025

Tune In