On National Pet day- Celebs laud new law that offers protection to animal caregivers feeding strays, taking care of them

Good news for animal lovers and caregivers, feeding stray animals is a law now. Even RWAs are expected to make sure the animals in their vicinity are well fed. There have been many instances where some people were assaulted while they were feeding stray dogs and cats. The new law puts a stamp on this kind act therefore has come as a welcome change. Street Dogs of Bombay shared the good news of ABC Rules 2022 being notified by the government on their Instagram page. Celebs welcome the new law.

Hansa Singh: This is brilliant news. Much-needed law... Sad that we had to get a law for showing compassion to stray animals but then whatever it takes to do the needful. The stray dogs and cats are as alive and beautiful as pets. Hope people who had any problem with feeding them have got a legit answer. Having said that, I would also request all pet lovers to just not feed them but also take care through timely vet visits etc and keep the hygiene factor in mind. They must abide by the rules by keeping the surroundings clean. It’s easier to say but it all comes in a package.

Megha Chakraborty: I have grown up spending time with dogs and cats, my mother does a lot of work for strays, feeding them, taking care of them, giving them medicines. I cannot do it with her but wherever I work I see a lot of dogs. Currently, we take care of dogs named Golu, Chintu, and a few more, I prepare their food and feed them during my lunch break. I am very happy with the law and I believe everyone should feed the strays around their house. News of people beating up strays and mistreating them was horrifying, at the same time there are good stories of people getting food in large containers and feeding them. I have also posted on my social media several times to keep some food and water for stray cats, dogs and birds because we are only there for them. I am very happy that the law has been passed as a lot of time people feeding these strays or having a pet are targeted and tortured by the housing societies, tenants etc.

Charrul Malik: It's good news that feeding cats and dogs is a law now. We should feed all the strays in our vicinity. I have always been an animal lover and grew up with dogs. I have a dog named Della. We love the strays too and feed them healthy food and water. I have been doing this since childhood. My mother at times used to get these injured strays home and get them treated. I wish I had a big house in Mumbai. I would have had 10-15 pets. We cannot get them home but at least we can feed and monitor them and take them to the vet. Recently, we rescued a pet who we named Chiraunjilal. But my pet Della didn't like her and so I discussed it with my co-actor Soma Rathod ji and she offered to take care of him and welcome him into her family. We are in touch and often talk about him. I wish there were people like her who could welcome animals with open arms, and even if you cannot take them home, at least feed them. We should keep doing such things for them.

Sheeba Akashdeep: It is a big relief to all of us animal lovers that we are now legally mandated to feed hungry stray animals. It was very disheartening when people were stopped from doing that. I am a very avid animal lover. And yes, I do feed strays and will feed any animal I see on the street. And they have a right to live almost as much as we do. So feeding them and giving them water in the summer months is so important and I urge people to try and leave water outside their buildings and their bungalows and the lanes so that in the hot summer months, the birds and dogs and the cats can come and drink and feed them.

Rishina Kandhari: I am a very companionable animal lover. I’m very happy to hear this good news. I feed cats, dogs, cows, horses, ducks even ants for that matter. I feed the dogs and cats on my set every day, and the cows twice a week. The most important part is that I take care of the cleanliness of the place and choose a spot which is little away from the hustle bustle. No littering around is my policy and I’m really happy that the rule also says so. It’s a very good deed to feed strays of your vicinity, but do keep in mind the cleanliness of the place and the safety of the people and the children around you.

Mitaali Nag:  This is super news. I am ecstatic after hearing this because I am an animal lover and dream to have my own animal farm some day. I make sure every month I do some charity to animal NGOs as I am not able to serve them myself regularly because of my erratic schedule. Though I always carry dog food and Parle-G in my car boot and wherever I go for a shoot I feed the strays around the set. Thankfully I haven’t had any bad experience with regards to feeding dogs around my house but I have read instances where dog feeders have been thrashed and abused. This law, making animal feeding legal, is such a sigh of relief. I am happy that we as a nation are progressing in the area of animal welfare too.

Sudhanshu Pandey: I'm so glad that there is a rule now of such kind because yes, we are pet lovers. I have two pets at home. Two dogs, they are our babies and carry my surname as well— Jack Pandey and Pepper Pandey. Also we have a group of pet lovers and have sort of rescued two little pups a long time back. They live in arrangements made by residents for them. We have made small shelters for them outside our house so that they can use them. We faced a lot of opposition because there are so many people who are very rude and allergic to animals. They say bad things but we put our foot down and make sure that they are taken care of by all of us. And this rule is definitely a very good change.

Nivedita Basu: My sister and I have grown up with dogs around. They say you can either be a cat person or a dog person, and we have always been dog people. I remember Anju Mahendru, when she used to stay in Juhu and also Jaya Bhattacharya, who are ardent dog lovers, and would go out to feed dogs whether it's day or night. Anju ji used to feed them after packing up from the shoot. I feel happy that they have so much love for the strays back in the days they used to be looked down upon, people used to kick these innocent animals for fun. I am sure they do it even today.  But now so many people have taken to feeding dogs and cats which is amazing. In my building, I had to go down in the night and afternoon to feed them so I'm glad there is a law now as now no one would say anything.

Rahul Bhatia: I am an animal lover and have a dog at home. I make sure to feed strays around my vicinity. I am very happy about the law because when we can take care of an animal in our house, we should then also treat the strays equally well. An animal is an animal, and you should treat them equally and feed them too, rather than just taking care of your pet or making a scene with the people doing it.