My Family is Other Animals, Compassion, Stray Dogs, and the Indian Ethos
Introduction
In India, stray dogs are an everyday sight—whether trotting alongside tea stalls, lying on dusty pavements, or chasing vehicles in bustling cities. For some, they represent a menace: loud, sometimes aggressive, and associated with disease. For others, they are companions—watchdogs of the streets, loyal survivors in an increasingly hostile urban environment.
The recent debates in India around stray dog management, court rulings, and rising urban conflicts highlight a pressing question: Do stray dogs deserve compassion as much as any other living being? According to journalist Rupa Sengupta, the answer lies in India’s very ethos. Compassion, she argues, permeates Indian philosophy and should naturally extend to stray animals. To deny this would be to deny a part of India’s civilizational identity.
This article delves into the multiple dimensions of this debate: philosophy, science, ecology, law, and culture. It examines why stray dogs must be treated with empathy, how animal lovers’ arguments are often dismissed, and why societies that ignore compassion toward non-human beings risk losing their moral compass.
The Larger Picture: Beyond ‘Sentimentality’
Critics often dismiss animal lovers as overly sentimental, accusing them of pampering pets while ignoring human suffering. Sengupta challenges this notion by reminding us that compassion for animals reflects a clear, rational worldview—not blind sentiment.
Humans, she notes, are relatively recent arrivals on Earth’s timeline, appearing around 300,000 years ago on a planet that has existed for 4.5 billion years. In this vast cosmic framework, all life forms—including plants, animals, and insects—are interconnected. Recognizing this interdependence is not sentimental but deeply scientific and ecological.
Darwin himself, while articulating the brutal struggle for survival, admitted sympathy for “all sentient beings.” Insects, often dismissed as insignificant, are crucial to ecosystems. Biologist EO Wilson’s famous line, “It’s the little things that run the world,” highlights how even minor species like ants and bees underpin human survival.
If humanity accepts its evolutionary place, compassion becomes not just a moral duty but a rational necessity.
The Indian Ethos: Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam
Indian philosophy is rooted in the concept of vasudhaiva kutumbakam—the world as one family. This worldview sees humans, animals, plants, and all elements of nature as part of a shared cosmic order. The Upanishadic idea that life grew from a single-celled ancestor further reinforces kinship across species.
This ethos also finds reflection in Indian culture and mythology. Animals—from Hanuman the monkey god to Garuda the eagle—are central to narratives of faith. Stories of loyalty, such as the Mahabharata’s Yudhishthir refusing to enter heaven without his faithful dog, reflect how deeply animal companionship is woven into Indian civilizational memory.
To deny compassion to stray dogs, Sengupta argues, is to betray this spiritual and cultural heritage.
The Modern Debate: Shelters vs. Streets
A recent Delhi-NCR court bench ruled that “no sentiments” should impede the relocation of stray dogs to shelters. The judgment suggested that animal lovers’ sensitivities were less important than public convenience.
But Sengupta highlights the dangers of this logic:
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Shelters are overcrowded, underfunded, and poorly managed. Institutionalizing strays often condemns them to miserable conditions.
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Healthy, non-aggressive dogs can coexist with humans when managed properly through sterilization, vaccination, and humane street-care programs.
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Treating strays as “low priority” beings ignores their intelligence, social bonds, and contributions to communities.
If wild animals like tigers and elephants deserve conservation, why should stray dogs be excluded from compassion simply because they live on the streets? Their familiarity should not breed contempt.
Utility, Value, and Anthropocentrism
One of the biggest hurdles in stray dog protection is anthropocentrism—the idea that humans alone deserve moral consideration, while other beings are judged solely by their utility to humans.
Animal lovers counter this by reminding society that:
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Strays are effective in pest control by reducing rodent populations.
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They provide security by alerting neighborhoods to intruders.
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They offer companionship without demanding material returns.
Yet reducing their value to “utility” alone is flawed. Every animal has the capacity for joy, suffering, and attachment. Denying this is equivalent to ignoring biological reality.
Strays vs. Wildlife: False Comparisons
Detractors often argue that stray dogs cannot be equated with majestic wildlife such as tigers or elephants, which deserve conservation because of their rarity and symbolic power. But Sengupta points out this reasoning is weak:
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Wildlife is preserved not just for its grandeur but because of its ecological role.
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Stray dogs, too, play a role in urban ecosystems and human society.
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Familiarity with strays should not lead to indifference; if anything, it increases our moral responsibility.
If we can protect distant, unseen wildlife in sanctuaries, why not show the same compassion to animals living right beside us?
Strays and Society: The Overlooked Stakeholders
When governments struggle to provide basic services in orphanages, schools, or hospitals, the plight of strays is often dismissed as a “luxury issue.” Yet Sengupta argues that the measure of a society is how it treats its weakest members—human or non-human.
Abandoning strays to overcrowded shelters reflects the same disregard for dignity that afflicts vulnerable human populations. Just as public health, education, and welfare must extend to all citizens, compassion should extend to non-humans sharing our spaces.
A Cultural and Religious Anchor
Indian tradition is full of reminders of animal dignity. In the Mahabharata, Yudhishthir’s refusal to abandon his dog—even at the cost of entering heaven—remains a moral high point. The episode teaches that loyalty and compassion are virtues greater than personal gain.
This narrative directly challenges the modern utilitarian mindset that dismisses animal suffering. If ancient India could recognize the intrinsic worth of a dog, modern India should not regress into cruelty masked as practicality.
The Ecological and Ethical Imperative
India’s biodiversity crisis—from vanishing forests to declining insect populations—reminds us that ignoring ecological interdependence has dire consequences. Stray dogs, like all creatures, are part of this delicate balance.
Humane solutions such as sterilization drives, vaccination campaigns, and community-driven adoption programs are sustainable ways to coexist. On the other hand, mass relocation, culling, or neglect only create cycles of suffering and conflict.
In the end, the debate is not just about dogs but about what kind of society India aspires to be. Will it uphold compassion as a civilizational value, or will it reduce life to cold calculations of utility?
Conclusion
The question of stray dogs is not merely an urban inconvenience—it is a test of India’s moral and cultural fabric. Compassion, deeply ingrained in the Indian ethos, demands that stray dogs be treated with dignity and care.
From evolutionary biology to religious philosophy, from ecological science to cultural tradition, every perspective underscores the same truth: stray dogs are part of the family of life. To deny them compassion is to deny our shared humanity.
India, therefore, must reject cruel, short-term fixes and embrace humane, sustainable solutions that honor both animal welfare and public interest. In doing so, it will reaffirm its timeless principle: vasudhaiva kutumbakam—the world is one family.
5 Exam-Oriented Q&A
Q1. What philosophical concept in Indian tradition supports compassion for stray dogs?
A1. The concept of vasudhaiva kutumbakam, meaning the world is one family, underpins compassion for all beings, including stray dogs. It emphasizes interdependence between humans, animals, and nature.
Q2. How does science support compassion toward strays?
A2. Evolutionary biology shows that all life forms are interconnected. Insects, animals, and plants play critical roles in ecosystems. Ignoring their welfare destabilizes the ecological balance, making compassion a rational necessity, not mere sentiment.
Q3. Why is relocating strays to shelters problematic?
A3. Shelters in India are often overcrowded, underfunded, and incapable of ensuring proper care. Institutionalizing strays often leads to suffering, whereas humane street-care solutions like sterilization and vaccination are more effective.
Q4. How do strays contribute to human society?
A4. Stray dogs provide pest control, neighborhood security, and companionship. Their presence also reflects the moral character of communities willing to coexist with vulnerable beings.
Q5. What cultural example highlights the value of animal companionship in Indian tradition?
A5. In the Mahabharata, Yudhishthir refuses to enter heaven without his loyal dog, symbolizing that loyalty and compassion are virtues greater than personal gain. This story highlights India’s cultural commitment to animal dignity.
