Why in News?

Frequent incidents of dog bites across Indian cities have reignited the debate between animal rights activists and public safety advocates, especially after recent court interventions.

Key Terms

Stray/Street Dogs – Dogs living in public spaces without ownership.
ABC Programme – Animal Birth Control scheme for sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs.
Article 21 – Protects the right to life and personal liberty (for humans, extended in some cases to animals).
Article 51A(g) – Fundamental duty of citizens to show compassion to animals.

Viewpoint 1: In Favour of Protecting Street Dogs

1. Dogs are sentient beings and deserve compassion and dignity.
2. Article 51A(g) obligates citizens to protect animals.
3. Mass killing of dogs violates international animal welfare norms.
4. ABC programme + vaccination can control population and rabies spread humanely.
5. Dogs also contribute as informal guards in streets and waste disposal ecosystems.

Viewpoint 2: In Favour of Human Safety First

1. India reports over 1.6 crore dog bite cases annually, a major public health concern.
2. Children and elderly are disproportionately affected.
3. ABC programme has failed due to weak implementation.
4. Aggressive dogs pose psychological fear, restricting free movement of people.
5. Human right to life under Article 21 should take precedence over stray dog rights.

Comparative Angle

Issue	Protecting Dogs	Prioritising Humans
Legal Backing	Article 51A(g), Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act	Article 21 – Right to Life
Practicality	ABC Programme, vaccination drives	Immediate safety, culling in extreme cases
Ethics	Compassion and co-existence	Public health and safety first
International Practice	Many nations adopt sterilisation + adoption	Some countries resort to controlled euthanasia

Q&A Practice

Q1. Prelims Type
With reference to the street dog issue, consider the following:

1. Animal Birth Control (ABC) is implemented under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
2. Article 51A(g) of the Constitution imposes a duty on citizens to show compassion to all living beings.
3. Article 21 ensures right to life for both humans and animals as recognised by courts.

Which of the above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 and 3 only

Q2. Mains Type
“Street dogs are a test case of balancing compassion with human safety in India.” Discuss the constitutional, ethical, and administrative dimensions of this issue