Community Dogs Starving at Agri Horticulture: Community Dogs Starving at Agri Horticulture: Kolkata’s green lung at Alipore, the historic Agri-Horticulture Society of India (AHSI), has become the epicenter of a heated battle over animal welfare. What was once known for its lush gardens and horticultural heritage is now under fire for fencing off sterilized community dogs and banning their feeding, leaving them to starve. Animal lovers, caregivers, and activists have taken to the gates of the society, demanding that the ban be lifted and basic compassion restored.
The Spark: Dogs Trapped, Food Denied
According to caregivers, about a dozen sterilized community dogs who had long lived within the AHSI campus have been fenced behind barbed wire. A notice pasted by the management bans all forms of animal feeding—dogs and even birds. The sudden action cut off the only source of sustenance for the animals, who had depended on caregivers and long-time feeders for years.
For four to five days, the dogs reportedly went without food or water. Some were seen collapsing from weakness, sparking outrage. Caregivers alleged that staff and workers inside the society were threatened with job loss if they dared to feed the animals.
Animal Lovers Raise Their Voice
On Sunday, a large number of animal lovers gathered in protest outside the AHSI gate. They raised placards, shouted slogans, and demanded immediate relief for the dogs.
Prominent feeders such as Meenakshi Pandeya and Nandita Thirani, who have been looking after the dogs for years, said the society’s decision was “unlawful and cruel.” They, along with others, have filed a police complaint at Alipore Police Station and served legal notices to AHSI authorities.
One society member, Kailash Kumar Agarwal, revealed that he had been feeding dogs and birds inside for three decades, but was recently show-caused by the society for doing so. For him, the ban violates the very spirit of compassion.
Community Dogs Starving at Agri Horticulture: The Society’s Stand
Defending the ban, AHSI secretary Durgadas Sarcar said the restriction was introduced to ensure the safety of morning walkers and visitors. He argued that feeding animals on private property can create hygiene issues and discomfort for members. Notices banning feeding were put up across the premises.
However, critics point out that this reasoning does not absolve the society from its legal responsibility towards animals who are now fenced in and dependent.
The Law and Animal Welfare Rules
1. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960
Starving animals or denying them food and water constitutes cruelty under Indian law. Any person or institution found responsible may face criminal charges.
Read the Act here (India Code)
2. Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023
These rules recognize community dogs as part of the urban ecosystem. Sterilized dogs are to be returned to their original territories, and caregivers are permitted to feed them responsibly.
Notification: Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying
3. Guidelines by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
The AWBI clearly states that starving animals is cruelty and that caregivers cannot be prevented from feeding community dogs at designated spots.
AWBI on Cruelty
These frameworks suggest that the society’s action may not only be ethically wrong but also in violation of existing rules.
Community Dogs Starving at Agri Horticulture: Ethical & Social Dimensions
This is not merely a legal issue—it is a moral one. Kolkata, like many Indian cities, has long had community dogs integrated into neighborhoods, markets, and institutions. Citizens, often out of compassion, have taken responsibility to sterilize, vaccinate, and feed them.
- Humane Responsibility: Sterilized dogs cannot reproduce, and they rely heavily on community care.
- Public Sentiment: Social media has been flooded with outrage, highlighting that a prestigious institution like AHSI cannot ignore public compassion.
- Urban Balance: Feeding bans disturb the delicate balance between human safety and animal welfare.
Possible Middle Ground
Experts suggest that rather than banning feeding altogether, the society could adopt regulated feeding systems. For instance:
- Designating specific feeding spots away from walking tracks.
- Installing water stations for animals.
- Collaborating with animal welfare NGOs for monitoring.
- Engaging with the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), which has responsibilities under the Animal Birth Control programme.
KMC Veterinary Department
Such measures could address safety and hygiene concerns while ensuring no animal suffers.
Larger Context: The Stray Dog Debate
This incident highlights the broader debate raging across India: how to manage stray dog populations in urban areas. While some societies see feeding bans as necessary for cleanliness, the Supreme Court of India and various High Courts have upheld the rights of caregivers and the welfare of animals.
The ABC programme—sterilization, vaccination, and feeding—is considered the only humane and effective solution. Starvation and abandonment, on the other hand, often escalate aggression and suffering.
What Lies Ahead
The immediate concern remains the health of the fenced-in dogs. Caregivers are pressing for urgent access. If no solution is found, the matter may reach the courts. Public protests are likely to intensify, and the society’s reputation could face lasting damage.
Animal lovers are hopeful that either through police intervention, municipal directives, or legal orders, feeding will be restored soon. For many, this case will set a precedent for how private institutions across the country treat community animals.
Conclusion
The Agri-Horticulture Society of India is a landmark institution, but its handling of community dogs has put it at odds with law, compassion, and public opinion. Starvation as a policy cannot be justified under any framework—ethical, legal, or social.
At stake is not only the survival of a dozen sterilized dogs but also Kolkata’s collective conscience. Whether the society chooses dialogue and humane solutions or persists with the ban will define its legacy for years to come.
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