WOMAN FINED 3.6 LAKHS FOR FEEDING STRAY DOGS, THEY WERE BORN INSIDE THE SOCIETY CLAIMS THE WOMAN

A building society has slapped a fine of 3.60 lakh on a resident for feeding stray dogs in the society premises in Kandivali, Mumbai.

The society chairman told ANI that "Around 98 per cent of the society members had passed the resolution to levy fine for feeding dogs in the society premises. Being the society's chairman, it is my duty to make members to follow the rules framed by the majority of members." He added that they have no trouble if people feed them outside the premises. He further added that "these dogs are aggressive and they bark at senior citizens, kids, and many others. There is a problem with hygiene too. The rule was made after receiving many complaints from the society members."

The woman in question gave her side stating that "I had an outstanding maintenance bill of Rs 3.60 lakh till March, which also includes Rs 75,000 monthly fine for feeding dogs. They have charged me of Rs 2,500 per day for feeding dogs." She went on to add "in July 2018, the society slapped a fine of Rs 2,500. It went up to Rs 75,000 per month in June. Another member of the society was also fined for Rs 7,500 in July and thereafter Rs 75,000 per month."

"The society had stopped charging penalties in November 2018, after I approached the animal rights activists and informed them about these rules, but in vain," she said. She explained that those were not stray dogs but they were born inside the society and she has been taking care of them ever since they were born on humanitarian grounds. "I am likely to move outside the city soon. I want to clear all dues of the society as my mother and sister will continue to stay here, but I won't pay the fine," she clearly stated.

While compassion is a strong human quality, lately people being abused and fined for helping animals is very commonly seen and it is heartbreaking. It is good to regulate rules related to animals for human safety, but doing nothing for the animals and being selfish with just the existence of people is where we, as people, go wrong.