08/12/2025
(Very long post but a true insight into what is happening in India and I request all my American folks, my international community and followers to be aware and speak up for the voiceless🙏)
Today I woke up to the most disheartening news from India and Suru's Garden whose sole objective is raising funds for strays and rescues I have cared for in Delhi for two decades is under threat.
A bench of three justices of Supreme Court of India decided to pass an order (without a hearing, "suo moto") of immediate capture and removal of all street dogs in the Capital Delhi, (vaccinated, sterilized or otherwise) with "any means necessary " into "non existent" shelters, never to be released again, never to be "adopted" out.....800000+ in 8 weeks..which basically means "death" for all considering the corruption, the lack of resouces and the impossible time constraint.
For context, India is a country which has held a unique position. The law upheld many times over decades (even by the current Chief Justice of India) allows for natural coexistence of all animals and humans. Under ABC laws of the nation, dogs/cats etc are to be neutered vaccinated and released into their territories since displacement induces increase in animal hostility and conflicts. Those in the community are to feed them responsibly and are to receive protection for their services.
In 2008 when I was a mere PhD student I "woke up" to the terrific plight of the strays. Apathy from corrupt civic agencies, non functional sterilzation units, handful of underfunded poorly operated ngo led shelters had led to increase in both animal cruelty and man animal conflict. I then used my scholarship money to start rescuing, diseased and accident cases, treating them, vaccinating them, neutering them and releasing them back and providing one time daily meal and continued care for their lifetime. Some started living as guard dogs in Institutes. Some I was able to find adopters for. And this has been my truth for almost 2 decades.
Mind you instead of applause, I more often than not faced ridicule and brickbats for "wasting my money" on rescues but I persevered because I knew I wasn't only serving community animals but community folks too. Today the very existence of these animals I have saved, neutered, vaccinated, most of whom will jump into your lap wagging tails(these are not aggressive breeds) is under imminent threat.
That the govts have failed to control the population over the decades due to corruption and severe public apathy is known to all. (I can also say the same for the uncontrolled human population explosion in India which is terrifying) So when the "New Delhi BJPgovt" was elected everybody hoped for a better Delhi. But Alas instead of concentrating on Women safety in the r**e capital, pollution (Delhi ranks worst on both accounts globally) the CM "Rekha Gupta " and her dog hating party worker " Vijay Goel" (who wants dogs to be fed to lions or dog meat industry) decided, "Stray free Delhi" would be the most important agenda. Her rhetoric brought about a slew of animal cruelty cases where emboldened neighbors started using goons to beat animals and their caretakers.
Now, Instead of taking cognizance of these atrocities, the news channels (completely paid and orchestrated by the current govt) started advertising dog bite cases and news everyday. Although they are an unfortunate reality, the numbers posted are highly inflated and often fake. Many videos were highly edited not showing the prelude where children or elderly pelted stones on sleeping dogs. To put it into perspective, in decades of rescue, I have been bitten four times, (all while rescuing injured animals whose muzzle came off), came across 1 rabid dog who was immediately captured and put down. 4 human bite cases I personally drove to Safdarjung hospital (three were registered as a 3rd degree wound when the scratch had not even broken the skin just the jeans... corruption everywhere).
The last straw was a news channel "NDTV" claiming a fake case of girl who died by meningitis as a case of rabies.
Taking suo moto cognizance of "this case" (later disputed and proven fake), 3 top court justices, unbelievably decided to take it upon themselves to pass a strange, logistically unattainable order, condemning all to death in "8 weeks"!!!
Rabies is prevalent in Asia but preventable by inexpensive vaccines. (I have worked in a rabies vaccine efficacy testing centre during masters.)
While I admit that dogs who bite passerby without provocation need to be seperated, the only humane way to solve the problem was for the courts to double down on the "New government" to finally do what nobody could, set up efficient mass vaccination and sterilization centres and use assistance of animal feeders and caretakers and be accountable.
I got a pack of 13 dogs outside my house neutered in 2010, vaccinated yearly and of them only 17yr old Spotty remains. ABC is very effective and humane.
Sadly in a country where animal abuse has become so rampant and is punishable by "less than a dollar" fine...(yes you read right)..this highly unscientific, improbable, politically and personally motivated order breaks my faith in the justice system in India today. Sadly, the Prime minister Mr.Modi has been silent on the matter.
One doesn't have to be a dog lover or an animal lover to dicern between what is good and what is downright evil.
I hope that justice will truly prevail in "God's court".
I wish I had the wealth to set up a giant shelter in the middle of a super expensive and crowded capital city to save those I have spent years saving but you know how improbable it is.
I don't know if flowers can heal my heart or save these innocent souls from a brutal cruel death by starvation and displacement but perhaps the power of prayers and your voice, the voice of the people of the world grows loud enough, it can pierce the walls of power and reach the ears of Indian govt and even the three Indian Supreme Court justices who have chosen to push through this unjust mandate before the high court could fully deliberate and decide on such a complex matter. I hope and pray for mercy and a miracle for all these voiceless souls🙏🙏🙏
Suru
