If you have anything to do with feeding and taking care of stray dogs sooner or late you will get this question thrown at you “If you love the stray dogs so much, why don’t you take them into your house and take care of them, instead of creating a nuisance outside …” Of course, this question will then be followed by a slew of abuses and comments regarding what a nuisance dogs and their feeders are!
To be honest there have been times I have had no answer to this ridiculous demand made by these people. It is just the humane thing to do. The Constitution of India emphasizes that it is our duty to help animals and the right of animals to life (Article 21 and Article 51 A (g)) so why so much angst amongst some when we help these homeless stray dogs?
So, I also decided to ask the same question to several stalwarts and mere mortals (just kidding!) in the field of animal welfare and below is listed their answers in no particular order of preference. (I respect all of them for all the incredible work they do).
| Much as I would love to bring all the stray animals into the world into my home, it just isn’t possible. All I can do is feed the ones around me, get them vaccinated and sterilized so that they don’t procreate, and become a nuisance for people like you who hate dogs. Isn’t it safer to have a well fed, healthy, socialized, vaccinated and sterilized animal on the streets than a hungry, diseased, hostile one? – Sushma Date |
| We sometimes serve a lot of poor and homeless people on the road. Are we supposed to take them all home? Can service only be done if we get them home? The Earth belongs to them as much as it belongs to us. – Kavita Rajesh |
| There is a Supreme Court ruling which has Stayed statements such as this (hence against the law to make statements such as this). Click here to refer to the SC Ruling. – Vineeta Vadhera |
| We cannot take them home, they are community dogs, we as responsible citizens take care of them and get them vaccinated and get population control surgery done so that we can all live amicably. If they are nuisance, then what would you call the people living on the roads? – Elspeth (Elli) Chen |
| I always ask them that everything they like outside their home they don’t take them in, isn’t it, plus where the dog is living is their home and we help them survive and have a better life and not uproot them. Everyone is happy where they live and we only make it better. – Saroj Soparkar |
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| And my reply would be, give us 10 acres with a mountain and lake and playground with all play equipment with tons of food then I would shift along with the dogs as I am more concerned with the safety of the dogs – Neena Rai |
| I totally ignore them!! If shit hits the ceiling, I tell them to lodge a complaint with the cops or the cantonment office. If a military person or any government tries to interfere, I ask them for an ID proof and tell them I will lodge a complaint against them. – Boman Bharucha |
| https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-IeyCqv2hd/?igsh=MXE5cHZucXA5aWtiZw== This is exactly what I tell people who approach with this attitude. If you give alms or help a human in need on the street, do you take him/her home? This is our constitutional right and as long as we are doing it with civic sense in mind, no one can question us like this. – Nisha Monterio |
| I usually say “Pyaar toh Shahrukh Khan se bhi karte, usko thodi na ghar le jaayenge!”. Love thy neighbor doesn’t mean I will take them all home. – Bhavna Mirchandani |
| If there is a good listener and really wants to know, my answer would be.. These are born on the streets and love to be there for their freedom hence can’t take them home. We feed them cause is as in earlier times they have no access to food as all garbage bins are locked or are being processed. Also no homes give food. If all homes started taking social responsibility and giving one chapati each or milk, people like us need not come out and feed. Secondly if the listener is bad and just wants to argue and fight the I tell them that even to ask me to take the dogs home is and illegal statement and they can be punished for saying so. – Prachi Sharma |
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| I ask them the following questions 1. What is the nuisance that you are talking about? 2. Loving a native breed is defined as a nuisance? 3. Feeding a hungry animal is nuisance? 4. Caring for a sick native animal is a nuisance? This land belongs to them too and they have every right to be here and live a life of respect and dignity. I also tell them that we have encroached on their lands and made them homeless. I am a native of this land and I love all native species of this land – Asha Ambekar |
| “There are so many homeless people on the streets who I am sure you or some of your family members do feed, why don’t you take them home? It is a similar situation, these are animals, those are humans. You care of humans, I care for animals, is there a problem? Also if they are willing to listen further, you can say it’s the governments job to take care of them, feed them, taking care of them, ensure that they are vaccinated, neutered and spayed but since the government is not doing its job, we as responsible citizens are doing our duty, doing you guys a favour by doing all this and spending out of our own pockets, would you like to contribute? – Tina Malkani |
The responses from these compassionate individuals resonate with many of us who work to support and care for street animals. These answers balance practical limitations with ethical and constitutional perspectives, and they make a powerful case for animal welfare as a collective responsibility rather than an individual burden.
Caring for stray animals is not about taking them all home—it’s about creating a harmonious coexistence where every living being has the right to live with dignity. The Earth is as much theirs as it is ours, and as responsible citizens, it’s our moral and constitutional duty to support these animals. Feeding, vaccinating, and sterilizing them is not just an act of compassion but a practical approach to reducing potential conflicts and ensuring community safety.
Criticizing those who help animals often stems from misunderstanding or lack of awareness. By sharing knowledge, legal facts, and perhaps a touch of humor, we can address these concerns thoughtfully. Let’s remember that compassion for animals reflects the best of humanity—it’s a testament to our collective empathy and our commitment to a kinder world.
Instead of asking, “Why don’t you take them home?” perhaps the question should be, “How can I help?”
