India Karuna Collaborative, a network dedicated to ending animal suffering, has launched awareness programs to promote unified action on animal welfare. The group responds to the Supreme Court's order on stray dogs by advocating humane, science-based solutions like large-scale sterilization. Founders emphasize adoption and government-NGO collaboration to resolve human-animal conflicts.
India Karuna Collaborative (IKC), a network of non-profit organizations and individuals committed to ending animal suffering in India, has initiated a series of new awareness programs. These efforts include a common pledge to unite organizations and influential voices in advocating for animal welfare, alongside value-based education and promotion of climate-conscious living.
The programs come amid the Supreme Court's recent order directing the removal of stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, depots, and railway stations. The court mandated relocation to designated shelters after sterilization. IKC founders Sethu Vaidyanathan and Parag Agarwal have called for more science-backed, humane approaches to address the issue.
"When there are dog bites, it is a real issue. But the only sustainable solution lies in entirely large-scale Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes," said Mr. Agarwal. He added, "Locking up animals in shelters without adequate facilities is not the right solution. A large number of ABC centres operated by the city Corporation will only be the long-term solution."
Mr. Vaidyanathan highlighted the role of adoption in reducing conflicts: "When Indian families adopt indie dogs without prejudice or preference for foreign breeds, we take a step towards ending the human-animal conflict. Governments must play a far larger role in this process, working hand in hand with NGOs and private organisations."