John Abraham pens a letter to the Chief Justice, addressing the recent dog ruling in Delhi.
In a recent development, Bollywood actor John Abraham has voiced his opposition to the Supreme Court's order to relocate stray dogs from Delhi-NCR to shelters. He believes the decision is illegal, impractical, and inhumane, and instead, advocates for a humane approach consistent with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.
Abraham argues that these dogs are not just strays but community dogs, an integral part of Delhi's urban fabric, respected and loved by residents over generations. He emphasises that the ABC Rules, supported by past Supreme Court judgments and World Health Organization recommendations, represent the only effective and scientific method for managing community dog populations.
In contrast to sheltering, the ABC approach aims to humanely control the dog population by sterilising and vaccinating dogs, returning them to their habitats to maintain territorial balance, and avoiding displacement that can contribute to increased aggression or public health risks.
Abraham has given examples of cities like Jaipur and Lucknow where the ABC programme has been implemented effectively. He believes that Delhi can achieve the same results.
The ABC Rules focus on sterilising and vaccinating stray dogs during the sterilisation process. This not only results in calmer animals but also fewer fights and bites. Moreover, the ABC Rules prohibit the displacement of dogs.
The estimated number of dogs in Delhi is 10 lakh, making it impractical and inhumane to shelter or relocate all the dogs. The Supreme Court has ordered the construction of a shelter for 5,000 to 6,000 dogs within six weeks, but it remains unclear how this will address the larger issue.
Abraham's stance has been supported by several other celebrities, including Varun Dhawan, Janhvi Kapoor, Sonakshi Sinha, Zeenat Aman, and Rupali Ganguly. Sinha expressed concerns about the society becoming soulless due to the removal of stray dogs, while Ganguly mentioned the cultural significance of dogs in guarding Bhairav Baba's temple and being fed on Amavasya.
In light of these concerns, Abraham has written to the Supreme Court Chief Justice, requesting a review and modification of the decision regarding stray dogs in Delhi, favouring the ABC approach.
- John Abraham, supported by celebrities like Varun Dhawan and Sonakshi Sinha, advocates for the Animal Birth Control (ABC) approach in managing stray dogs in Delhi, as it is supported by past Supreme Court judgments, World Health Organization recommendations, and has been successful in cities like Jaipur and Lucknow.
- In contrast to the proposed plan to shelter and relocate stray dogs, Abraham argues that the ABC Rules, which focus on sterilizing and vaccinating dogs, maintaining territorial balance, and prohibiting displacement, serve as the only humane, effective, and scientific method for controlling community dog populations.
- Abraham emphasizes the cultural significance of strays in society, with dogs respected and loved by generations of residents in Delhi, and draws attention to their role in maintaining health-and-wellness and mental-health by reducing fights and bites, as well as their importance in traditional practices like guarding Bhairav Baba's temple and being fed on Amavasya.
