The flawed argument of “harmony with dogs”
Some animal welfare ideologues and fanatics often become blind to the plight of residents in an area infested with stray and untrained and very territorial dogs. In the name of “living in harmony with dogs” they manipulate the residents and often look at them condescendingly should they raise some complaints.
In this piece I will write why this one-sided and extremely prejudiced notions are detrimental to the quality of life of residents.
The flag bearers of dog welfare do not know the general and very pervasive fear in the hearts and minds of residents while coursing their own territories, the roads, the parks, the playgrounds and even the hostel pavements.
How many incidences of dogs threatening the runners and exercises have been reported but apparently the freedom of dogs has won over the freedom of human beings.
In this excessive enthusiasm for dog sheltering, the fanatics have forgotten the welfare of humans and asking them to take precautions.
The fanatics presumed that humans harm dogs but given the terror of dog reaction, no one would invite that fate onto themselves.
Living in the comfort of their homes and travelling in their cars they hardly empathise with the daily plight of students returning late from labs, or wanting to jog early in the morning. In our own campus, the students feel restrained, restricted and think twice before going for a run at the dawn of the hour. Why?
In the name of dog training, the fanatics absolve themselves of the deeper issues but if they are really so liberal and law bound then they should go towards this in a democratic manner.
Seek a poll and then decide. And even then make sure that for this harmony to be an authentic harmony, the freedom of none of the animals, including humans, is compromised.
Right now the animal welfare fanatics and ideologues are skewed in their perception of the problem and have no idea of what is happening at the ground level.
Harmony looks good only when the interests of both the parties are not hampered by the independent living of the other party, but that seems not a case in our very own residence. The dogs are the kings !
