Stray Dogs

Ramnath was staying in a multi-story housing complex. The complex comprises residents some of whom were pet owners and some dog lovers.

Outside the complex a lot of stray dogs roamed, some of them were fed by the complex dog lover residents. Ramnath observed differential treatment to stray dogs by pet dog owners and other dog lovers. Stray dogs' requirements were mainly limited to giving of food, that too mainly leftover food.

Overview of complex and concerns related to protection for safety, security, health hazards and life where he was living were as under:

Stray dogs, pet dogs, other animals and human beings staying / visitors in the complex, as per Local authorities and Fire department notices complex was seriously non-compliant, cancelled fire noc, non-earthquake resistant, weak structures complex, having no boundary wall on two sides.

In case of fire and earthquake, no obstruction/ free movement for stray dogs and others.

Non-breaking of illegal partition wall constructed in the basement creating dangerous accidents prone conditions for stray dogs and others.

Coronavirus, health hazardous situation for stray dogs and others was further aggravated in the complex because of the dirty environment within adjoining sealed tower complex since March 2014, alarmingly serious unhealthy situations in nearby village and areas because of non-cleaning of drains and total neglect on cleanliness.

Because of differential treatment of stray dogs vis a vis pet dog, stray dogs behavior became aggressive, they were fighting with pet dogs and barking attacking children, women, barking and fighting on odd times causing mental torture and threat to residents apart from disturbing, causing disturbances to students study and rest hours. Problems were reported to estate manager, security-in-charge and RWA bearers.

The need of the hour was to wake up all administrative authorities to provide immediate long term protection from mental torture and health and safety hazards to everyone staying in the complex. Authorities ignored serious non-compliance, mental torture, health hazard and safety-related issues passing course of actions from one department to another, digital and print media also remained silent observers.

One fine morning dog lovers observed missing of 5 stray dogs from the complex and perturbed with the situation immediately lodged police FIR under intimation to animal cruelty officers / NGOs, media informing that five dogs have been killed by security and other persons and dumped somewhere and police immediately took cognizance of their submission and as a part of investigation during late-night hour took 5 nightguards and security gunmen under their custody. They were tortured and beaten up and they confessed in order to provide comfort to residents from mental torture, dogs were taken out from complex and left about 15/20 km away from the complex. Dogs were brought back by dog lovers, police closed FIR without the invocation of IPC section 182 providing big relief to FIR lodgers for filing of FIR on wrong information basis. During the process, dog lovers exhibited and celebrated their winning threatening residents if any attempts in the future are made to remove stray dogs from complex they will have to face very, very serious consequences.

Residents purchased flats with no information from the builders, authorities that complex residents have to cater to need of stray dogs also. Residents suggested to dog lovers either to own stray dogs as pet dogs or shift them to shelter houses and feed them providing a better atmosphere to stray dogs but dog lovers ignored the suggestion.

During the professional journey, he had learned about the happiness index and was informed that in social living we should contribute to enhancing the happiness index. He was informed that: "Happiness index is measured using parameters like Housing, Income, Work, Community, Civic Engagement, Education, Environment, Health, Life Satisfaction, Safety, and Life-Work balance. Happiness Index is a development philosophy as well as an index that is used to measure the collective happiness in a social environment."

While appraising everyone about happiness index his journey continues to explore possibilities of the enhancement of happiness index. Will he be successful?