November 13th marks World Kindness Day, a global celebration dedicated to promoting acts of generosity and compassion. Kindness as a concept is integral to human nature and entails empathising with, sharing, and alleviating the pain and suffering of one another. While the occasion encourages us to practice kindness towards ourselves and others, one often overlooked yet significant deed is showing kindness to the voiceless of our country. The condition of community dogs of India, often subject to hunger, disease, and abuse, mirrors the grave depravity and critical importance of extending our service beyond our kin.
India is home to an estimated 60 to 70 million stray dogs, and yet, the choice for pedigree dogs as companions still remains perniciously popular. While individuals are entitled to their right to choose, this choice, however, is rooted in ignorance. It lacks necessary background checks and entirely disregards the abuse and extreme cruelty that the backyard breeding industry thrives on. Advocate and Animal Rights Activist Niharika Kashyap stated that countless unethical breeders force female dogs to breed more than twice a year, which in essence is rape, just to make more money. Additionally, the newborn puppies are separated from their mothers and are sold at an alarmingly young age.
The reality of stray dogs similarly paints a very grim picture. There is ample evidence available on Google search for dog rape cases in India which grossly falls short to represent the actual number of such incidents in our country. Our community dogs battle for survival throughout their lives amidst traffic, worsening weather conditions, toxic waste products, scarcity of food and water, and rampant animal cruelty. Furthermore, the perception of housing societies in India is increasingly inclining towards viewing them as nuisances rather than as living and breathing creatures capable of feeling physical and mental pain. This attitude further extends to rescuers who work tirelessly to feed, rescue, and rehabilitate abandoned dogs while exposing themselves to the dangers of being at the receiving end of threats and violence. Overall, the feeling of contempt for stray dogs is leading to growing indifference and being out of touch with human qualities such as kindness, compassion, and care.
Rescuing stray dogs isn’t just about easing their suffering; it‘s about creating a culture of kindness and responsibility that guarantees a positive societal impact. Developing empathy toward animals has previously been associated with increased pro-social behaviour and improved interpersonal relationships. In India, where community spirit thrives in the form of shared compassion, we have an opportunity to build and extend this sense of unity to protect the most vulnerable members of our society—our community dogs.
This World Kindness Day, let’s pledge not just to be kind, but to be agents of change for those who cannot speak for themselves. Let’s ask ourselves, how can we create a world where these beings no longer have to cower in fear? They don’t need grand gestures; they need heartfelt actions that affirm their worth- a bowl of food, a warm space, and a touch that tells them they belong.
In loving an animal, we discover something deeper within ourselves, and as the saying goes, until one has loved an animal, a part of one’s soul remains unawakened.
The writer is a Psychologist. Views are personal.
