Dogs Have Basic Rights to Bark!
If human beings have a number of basic rights like right to speak, employment, live anywhere else etc, why not our pets like dogs and cats?
Dogs have basic rights to bark!
If human beings have a number of basic rights like right to speak, employment, live anywhere else etc, why not our pets like dogs and cats?
‘Dogs have basic right to bark,’ is the campaign unleashed by the SPCA (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) and AWBI (Animal Welfare Board of India), in response to a latest judgment delivered by Justice Tamilvanan of Madras High Court while disposing a writ petition filed by a litigant.
A litigant from Coimbatore filed a writ petition under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution seeking to quash the order of the RDO, Coimbatore.The litigant was having as many as thirty dogs of different varieties meant for commercial purpose.
The neighbors, disturbed by the barking and howling sounds of the dogs and the fowl smell that emanate from them, considering them as nuisance for their peaceful living, lodged a complaint to the revenue authorities. The Revenue Divisional Officer held an enquiry into the complaint; he found that there was substance in it and the person against whom the complaint was preferred was having more than 30 dogs without any valid license. Hence, he ordered him to give up them.
The aggrieved person preferred the above writ in the Madras High Court questioning the order of the RDO. But the High Court judge held that there was a prima facie case and so upheld the order of the RDO, stating that certainly the barking and howling sound of the dogs and the fowl smell that emanate from them would have caused a nuisance to the residents living nearby; hence there was no reason to interfere with the order of the RDO and so dismissed the writ petition.
But, both SPCA and AWBI, do not agree with the views of the Chennai High Court, because, like human beings have a number of basic rights ‘dogs have their basic right to bark If they are considered as nuisance, so is the crying sound of the children.
No doubt dogs are intelligent animals and known for their loyalty, which they show to their masters by wagging their tails. If properly trained, by virtue of their extraordinary sense of smelling, they are very helpful in tracking down the criminals and in the investigation of the crimes. They also serve as excellent watch dogs of our homes. In rare cases, the dogs have even become genuine friends of human beings.
While in the western countries like US and UK etc dogs and cats are considered as excellent pets and are looked after with special care; they have their own homes; wear dresses; accompany their masters for a brisk morning walk. There are separate websites and magazines for pets like dogs and cats; there are pet homes and exclusive veterinary hospitals to look after them; there are commercial pet shops and breeding centers. In short, pet animals have been given more freedom and parity with human beings. In their exclusive web sites, the profiles of these pet animals are highlighted and they even have social net working sites and friends.
Whereas, in countries like India, only a negligible percentage of people, in particular, the upper class and cine stars rear pets at home. Though some of the middle class and low class people maintain dogs, they do not have any license. Nor do the states have any special legislation for dogs. In rare cases, the municipalities and corporations engage in a hunt for stray dogs. Most of the dogs roaming about in the villages and small towns are only street dogs. Being conscious of their territorial integrity occasionally they engage in a fierce fighting with a rival group that overstep their territorial limits and in the process causing much nuisance to the nearby residents. Similarly, in the breeding season, mostly in the months of November and December, stray dogs engage in active mating, resulting in frequent fierce fighting with one another in having a partner; it is a common sight in the rural as well as urban areas of India.
Therefore, despite there being an active campaigning for animals rights from SPCA and AWBI, still there exists a general apathy or an aversion towards pet animals like dogs and cats, besides lacking in adequate legislation for their cause. Unless these areas are addressed properly, pet lovers cannot make any headway in India.
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Published in: Pets
Comments: 23 | Post a CommentPost a Comment
LoveDoctor | Dec 30, 2009 | Reply
If the neighbors complained, then the dog’s barking and foul smell was probably really bad. Dogs are a man’s best friend. They are loyal and they can track down criminals with their smell as you said. People shouldn’t have dogs if they are not going to take care of them and leave them wandering in the streets. As for India and other countries that don’t have legislation for dogs, perhaps they should look into it.
ken bultman | Dec 30, 2009 | Reply
I sympathize with animal lovers in India but the RDO took the proper action. I have dogs. It is my responsibility that they do not disturb my neighbor’s peace.
Brenda Nelson | Dec 30, 2009 | Reply
I cannot stand the sound of babies crying, indeed any noise can be offensive if it goes on too long.
Sure dogs should have the right to bark, it is their nature, BUT if it goes on too long, or is a signal for a distressed dog that is wrong. What pet owners need to be aware of is that dogs who bark ALOT are often saying that they are lonely, bored, angry, or so on, a signal of a problem that was owner caused.
Ramalingam | Dec 30, 2009 | Reply
Lack of awareness and adequate laws in support of pets is a major concern.
Naresh Kadyan, Representative of OIPA in India | Dec 30, 2009 | Reply
Dogs should have right for expression, how they can, only they can bark, rolling on grounds and moving their tales, nothing more?
Ramalingam | Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
This is a reply to Naresh :
Please note that the title of the article is ‘Dogs have basic rights to bark’.
We express our right for expression through speech, whereas the animals through their sounds and in other ways. For example, the dogs express themselves through their barking and by wagging their tail.
The article does not clamor for voting rights or right to contest in parliament for animals, but only a humane treatment as befitting to a pet animal and at the same time to avoid ugly scenery that we witness in public during the November and December months.
Thanks for your comments.
Stewies Corner | Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
Training dogs not to bark with shock collars seem cruel. They should be able to bark!
wonder | Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
The laws should be properly imposed. Of course dogs will bark.
Christine Ramsay | Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
An interesting and informative piece. I agree with the fact that dogs have rights.
Christine
Netty net | Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
Animals should have some rights,
Anil | Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
first a Revenue Dept should not have a say to decide about animals as they might not have any experts on the mentioned subject.If the inspecting officer is not an animal lover, he would sure go against the dogs.Secondly info on license if any is not clear in India and what benefit one gets from obtaining the same.
Its also not clear that if the barking was crying sorta or if any female was in heat then howling will be very much there.
Dogs have ways to express via barking, eyes, tails. So this topic will have half supporters and others commenting against.
So the best way is to highlight all the animal laws pertaining to dogs in any form of media. One hardly finds any rules/law pertaining to dogs in India.
Since human is a social animal so other animals should also have rights (even if in paper)
Ramalingam | Dec 31, 2009 | Reply
It is true that India does not have adequate laws to safeguard pets.But what the RDO had to decide was whether the dogs kept by a person numbering about 30, had caused nuisance to the neigbors and whether the person who had maintained a number of dogs had any license to rear them commercially.To that extent an RDO was empowered.That was why Madras High Court upheld the order of the RDO by deciding whether the complaint was genuine or not and it was adjudicated judicially.Now only an appellate court alone is entitled to decide whether RDO as well as the Single bench were right in upholding the complaint, provided the aggrieved person again preferred an appeal against the verdict of the Madras High Court.This is the legal position now.Thanks for commenting.
bailieman | Jan 1, 2010 | Reply
Dogs bark it is in their nature but they should not bark to excess and can be trained to respond only when appropriate, as in barking a warning.
fashion girl | Jan 1, 2010 | Reply
dogs bark because they are expressing an emotion…
Ramalingam | Jan 2, 2010 | Reply
This article has been viewed by more people who hail from west than people from India itself is a proof to show that who gives adequate importance to such things and who are more concerned about dogs.Thanks for commenting.
Littlekid137 | Jan 5, 2010 | Reply
Woah. I never thought of it like that. I am not a pet person, I just never cared much for animals. You made many good points, however me being a visual learner got lost in a sea of black and white, you should’ve used pictures or something like that, even if it is a picture of a dog. I would be more interested.
Kalyan | Jan 25, 2010 | Reply
well i have been on the receiving end from a neighboring dog which is kept within a very narrow space for the entire day and i have never seen it being taken out for a walk. It is a an Alsatian variety and one can imagine the kind of annoyance it must be feeling for being cooped up,,moreover I don’t even know if it has a chance to get mated. It keeps on barking for most of the nights and i because of lack of continuous sleep am getting into an irritable mood…so our dear friend who is so much into animal rights can come and stay with me and experience the whole scenario before he talks of rights!!!
Ramalingam | Jan 25, 2010 | Reply
To Mr.Kalyan
I can understand your concern and difficulties.In fact, I do not have any pets at my home.At the backyard of my house, my friend has two dogs of different varieties at his home, constantly barking;even when I open the backdoor of my house, they begin to bark and it takes some time for them to calm down.But it is their nature and we have to bear with them; no other go.
In fact, a few months ago there was a rumor about three unknown persons (perhaps thieves) constantly loitering in our street and spying.But, when my friend built his new house at the backyard of my house and appointed two dogs as his watch and ward staff, we are now free from any threat from thieves.Of course, we have no other go but to bear with the barking of the dogs
A small tail piece: After all life is based on adjustments.On this sole ground every one of us getting along with in our life.
tesa | Apr 26, 2010 | Reply
Los perros se expresan con los ladridos,te avisan si alguien merodea por tu casa o si estan en tú puerta,no debemos vetar su forma de hacerlo,pues esta es su manera de hablarnos.
Porque, si nos alegramos cuando ladran al encontrar un hombre bajo unas ruinas o cuando encuentran droga en una maleta o cuando un ladrón entra en nuestra casa,seamos justos y no egoistas, que ladren si, pero solo cuando nos conviene o cuando nos interese ,que ladren pero sin molestar eh..
karuna | May 4, 2010 | Reply
ohkkkkkkkkkkkkkk…to all you people thinkinh that it is your responsibility to see that your neighbours do not get disturbed by your dogs barking,a dog barks for not more than 10 mins at a stretch max….but when a child cries it goes on for more than an hour???i am neighbours to such disturbing noise of children at odd hours,what should i do????i go to a multiplex and ppl come in with infants crying in the climax most of them dont even bother to take them out….tahts disturbing as welll….what should i do then????no I AM NOT COMPARING A DOG WITH A CHILD but yes i am certainly saying that y target only animals all the time when we do get disturbed by so many other things which are controllable,just coz we cannot stop them,is it fair to target a life which cannot speak for its own rights????@ramalingam i quite like your view thats the way to live….@baleiman as u said they shud be trained to bark only when instructed,do u talk when ur instructed to…ur from the west,right…so many night clubs are coming up even in residential areas,people howl loudly to songs they must have never heard or cared much about,i am aware there are complains from those residential areas as well ,but is the govt doing anything on that,ofcourse not which govt says no to revenue????so just shoot the animals barking coz thats more noise than anything else in the world,right???
karuna | May 5, 2010 | Reply
hi kalyan…as for your comment,you have very much the answer to it,you know y the dog id barking as you have mentioned it already,so tell me what you must do complain about the dog or the animal…if a small child is left without been taken appropriate care of,the child wud do just the same,as the child doesnt knows to talk it will cry out his emotions,and as the dog doesnt knows to talk it will bark out his emotions.So y take away the right of the dog to bark,he is talking coz god has not made him fortunate enugh to be able to talk.i understand you cannot sleep in that noise,but then you must go and complain not for the dog but for its owner to take his responsibilities more seriously,am sure u agree with me..
athena goodlight | May 6, 2010 | Reply
B Nelson is right, It is the owner’s responsibility, too too see if the dog is in distress. Constant barking and yelping means the dog is uncomfortable. If the dog feels fine, most likely, it is not annoying.
ann | Nov 12, 2010 | Reply
There are other problems dogs have medical problems that can cause them to be lonely,depressed and not by their owners doing.
I have a 12 year old dog who has separation anxiety and it is a very hard thing to deal with now to just to go to the store. I can not leave him alone at all he will bark constantly until i get back, I have no control over this and it puts me a in real bad spot. trying to understand my neighbors rights as well. Now I have to hire dog sitters to come and sit with my dog so he will not disturb my neighbors and not an easy thing to deal with