Why Do We Care More About Stray Dogs Than People in India?

Picture India’s streets: dogs wandering, cows munching on trash, donkeys hauling heavy loads, and people—kids, old folks, beggars—trying to get by. It’s a messy, lively mix, but there’s something off about how we choose to help. Stray dog welfare has become a significant issue, with NGOs raising millions to feed and care for them. But humans—whether they’re begging, homeless, or hurt by stray dogs—get ignored. And don’t get me started on other animals like cows or donkeys, who barely get a second glance. It’s like we’ve picked who deserves our kindness, and people are often at the bottom of the list. That’s just not right.

Stray Dogs Get Love, Humans Get Left Behind

There are approximately 60 million stray dogs in India, and many people are stepping up to help them. NGOs run feeding drives, spay them, and even find them homes, all backed by substantial donations and social media hype. Scroll through Instagram, and you’ll see cute dogs getting rescued, with everyone cheering. But what about the beggars on those same streets? The kids holding out their hands at traffic lights, the old folks with nowhere to go? They’re human, just like us, but we look away.

These people—often stuck in poverty, sick, or even trafficked—get no big campaigns. The government offers some programs to help, but they’re often underfunded or difficult to access. Beggars aren’t seen as people with stories; they’re just “annoying” or “lazy.” Meanwhile, a hungry stray dog gets a whole community to rally around it. It breaks my heart to see a kid ignored while a dog gets a full meal. Why is it easier to care about a pup than a person?

Stray Dog Attacks Hurt Everyone, But No One Helps

Then there’s the issue of stray dog attacks. With so many dogs around, bites happen—a lot. India sees 18,000–20,000 rabies deaths every year and over 15 million bite cases from 2019 to 2022. It’s not just the poor getting hurt; kids playing outside, elderly folks on walks, or workers heading to their jobs can all get attacked. However, poorer individuals are hit hardest because they can’t afford vaccines or quality healthcare. I read about a four-year-old killed in Hyderabad in 2023, two brothers, five and seven, mauled in Delhi in 2024, and even a 70-year-old doctor in Aligarh who didn’t make it. These stories are gut-wrenching, and they’re not rare.

What do the victims get? Almost nothing. There was a court ruling in 2023 stating that people should receive ₹10,000 for a bite or ₹20,000 for more severe injuries, but most individuals—especially those without financial means or connections—see no help. Families who lose loved ones are left alone to grieve. The rules meant to control stray dogs, such as spaying and vaccinating them, aren’t appropriately followed because cities lack the necessary funds. NGOs keep focusing on saving dogs, but what about the people who get hurt? It feels like their pain doesn’t matter as much.

Why Only Dogs? What About Other Animals?

It’s not just humans who are getting ignored—other animals are too. Dogs get all the love because they’re cute and relatable. But cows, whom we call sacred, are often left eating plastic-filled garbage. Donkeys and buffalo, slogging away under heavy loads, receive no support from NGOs fighting for them. The rules that protect dogs, like the Animal Birth Control laws, don’t seem to apply to these animals. It’s like we only care about what’s easy to post on social media. That’s not fair to the cows, donkeys, or anyone else who’s suffering.

Let’s Care About Everyone

I’m not saying we should stop helping stray dogs. They deserve care, too. But we need balance. People—whether they’re begging, homeless, or bitten by a dog—deserve safety, healthcare, and respect. The money pouring into dog welfare could also go toward job training, mental health programs, or decent shelters for humans. We need to make sure the rules for controlling stray dogs are actually followed, so fewer people get hurt. And let’s not forget the cows, donkeys, and buffalo—they need love too.

India’s streets show us who we are. We’re quick to save a dog but slow to help a kid who’s begging. We’ll vaccinate a stray but shrug when someone’s bitten. We’ll fight for one animal but ignore others. That’s not who we should be. Let’s share our compassion fairly—give humans the dignity they deserve and care for all animals, not just the ones that are cute. Until we do, we’re letting down the people and creatures who need us most.

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