I’ll start by saying that I’m a dog lover. During my childhood, we lived in a spacious house and shared it with three large dogs named Vinod Khanna, Rajesh Khanna, and Shatrughan Sinha. We all adored them. They had a vast terrace to frolic on and a generous lawn for their runs. Although these gentle giants had hearty appetites and occasional bouts of extended barking, they never harmed anyone throughout their lives. Unfortunately, they passed away one by one, leaving us quite saddened.
Fast forward to 2021, a friend of mine gave me a black Labrador puppy while I was residing in a 3BHK apartment in Noida. The apartment was suitable for a couple like us (my wife and me), so we assumed that a puppy would be easy to handle. Initially, it was, but once it reached its fifth month, it started causing trouble, not for me but for our neighbours in the complex. Eventually, I had to give it to a friend who had a spacious villa with a decent-sized backyard.
The day I have my own villa, the first thing I’ll do is adopt a dog. However, the unfortunate reality is that dogs are not well-suited for apartment living. They thrive on open spaces, enjoy running around, and have a penchant for sniffing strangers, some of whom might be allergic to dogs or intensely afraid of them. In a modern city apartment, dogs have limited room to roam and encounter too many people to sniff, which can potentially cause conflicts between dog owners and non-dog owners.
Having mentioned that, let’s direct our attention to Noida – a Truly cosmopolitan city of the 21st century. A sizable apartment society in Noida has room for 4000 families, and even the smallest ones can house more than a thousand families. That’s a substantial population in a confined area. When you introduce dogs into the mix, conflicts are almost certain to arise. Let’s examine some of the incidents.
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On July 7, 2023, a video surfaced from Logix Blossom County in Sector 137, Noida, showing a dispute among residents regarding a dog wearing a muzzle. In the 40-second video, a couple inside an elevator can be seen requesting a woman to put a muzzle on her dog due to the increasing number of dog bite incidents. The dog owner refused, and the confrontation escalated, with residents questioning her decision and even insulting one another.
On November 17, 2022, the Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) imposed a Rs 10,000 fine on a dog owner named Kartik Gandhi, residing in the La Residentia Society in Greater Noida West. This fine came after Kartik’s pet dog bit a boy in a housing society elevator on November 16. It marked the first instance of GNIDA imposing such a fine for a dog owner’s negligence in controlling their pet. Additionally, GNIDA instructed Kartik to cover the entire treatment cost for the dog bite victim.
On October 31, 2023, a disturbing incident occurred in a Noida residential complex involving a dispute over pets. An argument between a man and a woman carrying her pet in an elevator escalated into a physical altercation, with slaps getting exchanged. This incident was recorded by a CCTV camera inside the elevator and went viral on social media. The dispute began when the man objected to the woman bringing her dog into the elevator.
Feeding stray dogs is indeed a virtuous act, as Hindu scriptures suggest that it can help individuals cleanse their bad Karma. However, the excessive practice of feeding strays has become troublesome, particularly in urban areas like Noida. Frequently, feeding strays results in a gathering of dogs within the residential society, leading to various challenges for the residents.
A recent incident in a Noida housing society went viral due to a video capturing a heated argument between a woman and several residents over the feeding of stray dogs within the community.
The video begins with the woman engaged in a verbal dispute with residents who oppose her actions. She defends her right to feed the dogs, citing legal support for her activities. As the argument intensifies, she expresses frustration and determination to continue feeding the dogs, despite objections from the residents.
Tensions escalated as she challenged the residents and called for others to join the dispute, stating her intention to feed the dogs again the next day. The situation took a turn when a member of the housing society board stepped in to defuse the conflict by inquiring about the woman’s residence within the community. With this intervention, the woman eventually disengaged and left the scene.
In another incident, captured on camera, a girl feeding dogs in a residential complex in Sector 75, Noida, became the target of a violent assault by three women and one man.
In another distressing incident, a baby was mauled by stray dogs.
To reduce conflicts and arguments between dog lovers and residents’ groups, the Noida authority has already earmarked feeding points in various sectors across the city, but this rule is often flouted.
The issue in such situations is that:
Dog owners often receive public sympathy because dogs are universally seen as adorable.
Feeders are often perceived as selfless individuals who can do no wrong.
Those who clash with dog owners are sometimes unfairly labelled as dog haters.
Individuals who intervene to stop feeders may be seen as villains.
However, it’s essential to step back from moral judgments and objectively assess the situation. Not everyone is expected to be a dog lover; some people have intense fears or allergies related to dogs.
First and foremost, if you live in an apartment, carefully consider whether owning a dog is appropriate. If you do decide to get one, use muzzles when taking them out and stick to designated lifts. If people appear uncomfortable, consider waiting for an empty lift.
If you enjoy feeding dogs, by all means, continue doing so, but avoid doing it within the residential community. Instead, follow designated hours and locations for feeding.
In case you find yourself in a confrontation, try to stay calm. Issues can often be resolved without raising your voice or resorting to physical actions.
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