By Smritika Banerjee
Mariam Abuhaideri, who is an animal activist, led a protest on MG Road in Pune with over 50 people against the Animal Welfare Board of India. This was about its recent Standard Operating Procedure for the stray dog management within the premises of institutions.
The SOP, dated November 27, violates the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, as per Abuhaideri’s comment. The Animal Birth Control Rules make it mandatory to return sterilised and vaccinated dogs back to their original area. However, the SOP requires shifting all the stray dogs to shelter with no return policy by removing all stray dogs from institutional areas.
Slogans like “Awara Nai Humara Hai” and “No Dogs No Votes” echoed through the ‘Make India Care Again Movement’ led by Abu Hiaderi. She called for the withdrawal of SOP through a legal notice issued by the Ubuntu World Organization. The protesters distributed pamphlets and fed street dogs, with additional events scheduled in Jaipur, organised by youth NGOs.
Abuhaideri remarked, “No one will love you as much as a dog; their wagging tails melt away stress.”
“AWBI was our only hope for protection, but they failed us,” stated protester Shalini Narona.
The protesters are concerned about a possible agenda linked to the dog meat trade, pointing to a previously withdrawn livestock bill and criticising the absence of adequate shelters, which they believe results in cruelty. “Where are the shelters in India? They simply don’t exist,” said another protester, Natalie.
Bobby Ghosh shared, “There have been incidents where dogs were poisoned, and dog lovers have been physically attacked. Near my home, I was assaulted after rescuing a dog.”
The AWBI SOP aims to create a consistent national framework for the management of stray dogs. Issued in response to a Supreme Court directive on handling stray dogs within institutional premises, the circular seeks to standardise efforts across the country to prevent dog-bite incidents and effectively manage stray dogs in both public and private institutional settings.
The main provisions include the mandatory removal of stray dogs from institutional areas, a no-return policy for these animals, requirements for shelters, waste management protocols, and initiatives to raise public awareness, stated Bobby Ghosh.