When the Covid pandemic struck in 2021 and the lockdown followed, social media was abuzz with how furry friends kept their 'humans' company and helped with keeping depression at bay. Almost two years went by like this. Then came reports of abandonment when the lockdown was lifted. Some pets were abandoned because of fear that pets might catch and spread the Covid virus and some did not want pets anymore when normalcy returned. However, all this is now past. The year 2022 changed the scene completely as cases of terrifying dog bites flashed on TV screens and made headlines almost every day.


A woman in a housing complex in Noida drives two kilometers with her pet to give it a walk because residents and locals are now afraid of pets in the wake of the recent dog bite cases. Not only are they afraid, but WhatsApp groups of Resident Welfare Association (RWAs) are also filled with messages cautioning against pets. This went to such an extent that authorities have had to intervene when arbitrary rules were imposed on pet owners.


PET PARENTS FRUSTRATED


Pallavi Kumar, who is a resident of one such housing complex in Noida and a pet owner, said, "One thing has happened for sure, I can't just casually say that I have a dog. I have a dog who is probably the best companion I have ever had. He understands when I am sad, he loves me unconditionally, and more importantly, I love having him in my life. But every time I take him out for a walk, I am tired of skipping lifts because the priority is for those who are not carrying pets."
 
She added: “I feel if I have to say 'oh, he won't bite, he is friendly' one more time, I will lose my mind. Now there is a negative connotation to being a dog parent or a dog lover in general. The society members keep forwarding these news clips in WhatsApp groups and give 'gyaan' on how the pets need to be exercised, etc. But the apartment will not even give a single inch for that.”


Some are compelled to take their pets for walks either in the break of dawn or dead of the night due to the panic over the attacks. Even with a proper leash and muzzle, there is always a possibility of facing harassment out of nowhere, many pet humans ABP Live spoke to in Noida claimed. “The surveillance has made life difficult for pet owners.”


Koustav Das, another Noida resident, said, "It has definitely become a lot tricker to take my dog for his daily walk. Using the elevator has also become an issue. In fact, people just get scared at the sight of him from far away. While it makes me sad, I don’t blame people in the wake of recent dog bite cases. At the same time, the dogs alone cannot be blamed for the bite cases. Dogs can get easily stressed and aggressive if their owners don’t train them properly or hardly ever spend time with them."


He also highlighted the need for pet parents to act more responsibly. He said, "I feel it is an owner's responsibility to ensure the well-being of their furry babies and the people in their surroundings. As for the recent curbs and fines, it’s a bit too much as people have already been asked to get their dogs registered."


RESIDENTS PANICKED


With local residents up in arms against pet owners even at places where such incidents had not taken place, curbs were imposed on dog walks and taking dogs in elevators as videos of attacks on kids and food delivery men went viral on social media and triggered panic.


Even as pet owners protested against harassment and curbs, strong and violent reactions could not be averted when incidents of kids getting attacked surfaced. The case where a baby was mauled to death by a dog or when a boy suffered over 100 stitches after being attacked by a Pitbull only added to the fury.


Harvinder Singh, a resident of Delhi's Malviya Nagar, elaborated on his fear which he said has increased in the wake of the recent attacks. He said, "As a victim of a dog attack, I was always afraid of dogs. But with the increase in such cases, my panic has been triggered. Also, I feel some dog owners are not responsible enough when they are out with pets and such carelessness costs others. There should be proper rules and penalties imposed for not abiding by them. There were three instances where I was about to be attacked by dogs. Currently, I am taking anti-rabies injections after one such attack."


Karan Bhardwaj, a resident of Faridabad and a father of a five-year-old also echoed the same sentiments. He said, "I feel scared when my child is playing outside with his friends. There is always a fear that he could be bitten by a dog while playing or when he is alone on the streets. However, I believe it is the responsibility of dog owners to ensure the safety of others. Their happiness should not be the reason for the pain of others."


MORE CAUTION NEEDED


This meant more responsibility and awareness on part of animal lovers. A lot of breeds need proper training and regular exercise, and without the same, they could turn aggressive. So keeping such breeds as pets, especially in apartments that aren't spacious isn't a good idea, experts say. Wide reportage on the cases has brought this fact into public awareness.  


Dr Divya Priya, a veterinarian, said there is a need to respect everybody's space and the issue can only be resolved through mutual understanding. She said, "Not everybody is a dog lover and some people are generally scared of dogs. One has to respect that. And most importantly, one should be able to understand and handle one's pet. This alone can solve such instances to a large extent. You should know what gets your pet anxious or aggressive and act accordingly."


Speaking on what breeds to get as pets, she said, "One must research about pets before getting them. Not all pets can stay in small spaces, so you should get pets suited to the space you have. Understanding breeds is also important because people often think smaller breeds will be less aggressive, but that is not always the case. And sometimes they avoid taking larger breeds because they are often thought to be aggressive, which is also untrue. Breeds like Golden Retrievers of Labradors are friendly, but a Cocker Spaniel, though small in size, can be aggressive. So one must only get a pet after proper research."


Curbs were also imposed on feeding strays. In the midst of all this conundrum came an order of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court that asked animal lovers to take responsibility for the strays if they fed them. This order was, however, stayed by the Supreme Court. But in the age of social media, the damage was done. Soon after the Bombay High Court order made it to the news, it sprang up in most WhatsApp groups as a warning for dog lovers. In some parts of the country, this leads to increased attacks on stray dogs.


However, those working with stray dogs say it must be understood that strays leave at the mercy of the common man, and denying them food would only make them aggressive and result in more such cases. Therefore a wiser idea would be to have special stray feeding areas -- this has been suggested by many dog lovers, and some housing societies have also considered the idea instead of a blanket ban on feeding strays.


So even as the curbs spelled trouble for many, it also gave the message that owning a pet comes with a huge responsibility, and failing that would mean legal consequences. In Noida, a fine of Rs. 10,000 has been declared if a pet bites or attacks someone, and the medical expenses will also have to be borne by the owner. While it is true some pet owners were harassed for no reason, a few also bought aggressive breeds but failed to train them, which also results in biting incidents.


Taking note of this issue, the civic bodies of Gurugram, Ghaziabad, and Noida have banned certain breeds like American Pit-bull terriers, Rottweilers, Wolf dogs, and American bulldogs among others. The Noida Authority has also made registration of pet dogs mandatory and the same has to be done by January 31, 2023. Failing the deadline will attract a penalty.


With such rules and restrictions, life definitely changed for all pet owners this year.