India, March 1 -- Are Indians, individually and as a society, kind or cruel to animals? On the surface, compassion should come naturally. Many worship the cow as a mother, revere the monkey as a manifestation of Hanuman, and celebrate the elephant-headed Ganesha as a symbol of wisdom. Yet, beneath this reverence often lies a troubling contradiction - even as we elevate animals in faith and folklore, the way we treat them in everyday life is actually very different.

Let me begin with a confession. I love animals, and in particular, I love dogs. For years, we have had at least five dogs as pets in our home, and even now, we have four. It has also been my family's practice, whenever possible, to adopt strays - our own native breed.

It is i...