Hypocrisy unmasked, Dec. 11 -- Pedigrees at home, strays for society?

Sir,

Dr. Javeed Nayeem's recent column asking, rather bluntly, "Where are the real dog-lovers?" is a rarity in public debate: honest, unfashionable and deeply necessary (SOM dated Nov.23).

For all the passionate noise generated after the Supreme Court's latest order on strays, there remains a striking reluctance among self-proclaimed animal lovers to shoulder even the smallest fraction of the responsibility they demand from everyone else.

They defend the "rights" of street dogs with almost constitutional fervour, yet fall strangely silent when asked to adopt one.

One is reminded of Nawab Mahabat Khan III of Junagadh, who reportedly built 800 well-furnished kennels,...