Struggle Over Kindness: Russia's Battle Against Empathy and the Global Irrationality of Animal Welfare Regulations
In a global landscape, governments grapple with the issue of criminalizing acts of kindness towards stray animals, often as part of broader policies targeting stray animals or homelessness. This contentious approach, however, raises ethical and practical concerns.
Take, for instance, the recent Russian initiative that may penalize ordinary citizens for feeding stray dogs near residential buildings. This move, critics argue, is a missed opportunity for the state to invest in humane solutions, such as scalable spay-and-neuter programs, transparent adoption systems, and educational campaigns promoting coexistence.
The Russian initiative echoes similar policies in various parts of the world. In Fort Lauderdale, Florida (USA), a 90-year-old man was arrested and fined for feeding the homeless in 2014. In Nice, France, citizens are prohibited from feeding pigeons on public benches. In Singapore, feeding stray cats is considered a civic offense, yet the government refuses to fund large-scale neutering programs.
However, not all legal systems share this perspective. In India, for example, feeding stray dogs is legal and protected under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution (right to life). Courts, such as the Punjab & Haryana High Court, have ruled in favour of street feeders, stating that harassing them or illegally relocating animals is punishable by law, recognizing feeders as part of the solution, not the problem.
This dichotomy between policies raises significant implications. Criminalizing kindness adversely affects vulnerable populations, such as people experiencing homelessness and their companion animals. It isolates them socially, increases vulnerability to violence, and makes accessing services more difficult. Moreover, these policies often do not solve underlying problems (e.g., homelessness or stray animal overpopulation) but instead push issues out of sight, creating hidden crises.
Targeting acts of kindness towards stray animals or homeless pets also raises broader human rights concerns regarding dignity, care, and the right to life for both humans and animals. In some regions, legal systems explicitly protect feeding stray animals, while in others, such actions can be indirectly criminalized under the guise of public order, health concerns, or homelessness management laws.
In the face of such controversies, it is crucial for governments to reconsider their approaches to stray animal management. Investing in humane solutions, rather than penalizing citizens for acts of kindness, is a step towards creating a more compassionate and effective society.
References:
- The Guardian
- The Hindu
- The Indian Express
- The Conversation
- Human Rights Watch
- In stark contrast to the Russian initiative, India's society deems feeding stray dogs as a legal and protected act under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.
- The Indian law recognizes street feeders as part of the solution, not the problem, against the backdrop of policies criminalizing similar acts in other parts of the world.
- To create a more compassionate and effective society, governments might consider emulating India's approach towards the management of stray animals by investing in humane solutions.
- Implementing humane solutions, such as educational campaigns, adoption systems, and spay-and-neuter programs, could yield better results than penalizing citizens for acts of kindness towards society's most vulnerable members, including pets and homeless individuals.
