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0Compassion v fear: Delhi divided over feeding stray dogs
Megha Malhotra has been feeding stray dogs in her residential complex for almost two years. Every evening, she places food at a temporary feeding spot near her building's exit gate. "I enjoy taking care of them and feeding them," she says.
But in recent weeks, she has sensed growing unease among residents every time she puts out the food. Some have even confronted her, insisting she stop feeding the animals, she says.
Such confrontations are becoming frequent in Delhi and many Indian cities as civic authorities grapple with a fast-growing population of stray dogs. Those who feed dogs do it out of compassion, and those who oppose it cite an increasing number of dog bites and attacks, some of which have also been fatal.
Animal lovers argue that much of the confusion stems from a recent Supreme Court order that has reignited a polarising debate: How should India manage its stray dog population in densely populated cities?
"There is fear in the minds of people. What they don't get is that these animals just need love and care," Ms. Malhotra says. "My husband and I are scared of sending our children out to play unsupervised. What happens if a dog bites them? Who will be responsible?" says Chetna Singh, a resident of north Delhi.
Government data shows that there were 3.7 million reported cases of dog bites across the country in 2024, out of which more than 25,000 were reported from Delhi. For feeders like Ms Malhotra, the debate is about more than just numbers. It is about awareness and coexistence.
stray dogs/animals 流浪狗/流浪动物
"Stray dogs" are dogs without a home, living on the streets. We can use “stray” for other animals too. Such as stray cats – but not animals that are usually wild. So stray gives us the idea that it's an animal that used to have a home but doesn't anymore.
Many stray dogs live near the market and look for food.许多流浪狗生活在市场附近，四处寻找食物。
The charity collects money for stray dogs and cats. 这个慈善机构为流浪狗和流浪猫筹集资金。
to grapple with 努力解决
If you "grapple with" something, this means you try hard to deal with a problem or a difficult situation.
The city is grappling with a rat problem! 这座城市正在努力解决鼠患困扰！
She grappled with the decision of which shoes to buy. 她在买哪双鞋的问题上犹豫不决，难以抉择。
coexistence n. 共存
The noun "coexistence" means living or existing together in peace, even if things or people are very different. The verb is "to coexist."
Coexistence between the two species is very unusual in the wild. 这两个物种在自然环境中的共存情况极为罕见。
Cats and dogs can coexist in the same house if they grow up together.猫和狗要是从小一起长大，就能在同一个家里和睦相处。
