Mikey, a very young Spitz-mix dog came to live in Raheja Exotica, a housing society in Mumbai’s Madh Island, around six years back. White, hairy, an even-tempered and reserved fellow, Mikey quickly won over many hearts and settled inside as a community dog cared for by residents. On May 27, 2026, eight-year-old Mikey was allegedly killed brutally and his body discarded. An FIR cites animal cruelty and CCTV tampering. There has been outrage on social media with the ongoing campaign #JusticeForMikey asking for justice for the alleged murder of an innocent animal who was fed and vaccinated by the residents themselves.
The alleged murder was cruel in itself. But what has followed has left a bitter taste in the mouth. The FIR states that the society’s management and housekeeping staff had previously tried to chase Mikey out of the society. On that day, the CCTV cameras were allegedly deactivated. The secretary of the society was not even allowing residents to talk to the staff after the incident. It seems to have been pre-planned.
Mikey was one dog but he meant the world to his caregivers. This is just one of many such hate crimes committed every day in the country for no fault of the animals themselves. It just goes to show how depraved we as a society have become.
Mahatma Gandhi had famously said, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
Morally, we are at our lowest point.
The NCRB compiled and published the national breakdown on animal cruelty cases for the first time in 2024. The database recorded 9,039 official cases of animal cruelty across the country, leading to the arrest of 10,312 individuals.
The “In Their Own Right” report by FIAPO and All Creatures Great and Small (ACGS) was published in 2020. This study analysed a decade-long data window, revealing that 493,910 animals fell victim to human-inflicted crimes over a ten-year span.
But the reality is that due to a lack of public awareness and the trivial ₹50 fine, over 90% of animal cruelty cases are never reported to the police. Therefore, the figure is much larger than the one quoted above.
The most disappointing part is that our very own Resident Welfare Associations have become battlegrounds where animal lovers and those who are against them lock horns every now and then over the most trivial matters.
Let’s go over a few of them which I have personally witnessed.
Situation 1: Gabbar, the Golden Retriever is out for his evening walk with the dog walker. A gentle giant who loves people sets foot in the elevator as always, only to be yelled at by Mrs B from the 4th floor. “ Dogs must not be allowed in these elevators meant for residents. Take the dog by the stairs.” 10-year-old Gabbar and dog walker step away from the elevator as they don’t want to create a fuss. But can this senior dog climb up 4 flights?
Fact-check: It is illegal to bar pet dogs from elevators in housing societies.
There’s a notice up on the notice board the next day about how dogs are not allowed in the elevators. But who will challenge the office bearers?
Situation 2: Champ, the Alsatian has been advised by the vet to get more exercise. It would help in easing his stress, reduce excessive barking and make him calmer. But dogs are not allowed in the society park by the management committee and the nearest public park is 15 kms away. Another rule which has been created by the RWA. As a result, Champ leads a sedentary life which increases his agitation by the day.
Situation 3: Mr A and his wife feed a couple of community dogs outside the apartment every night. They take out time from their busy schedules to keep water bowls and regularly fill them. Residents start complaining about dogs gathering near the gate due to this activity. Mr A and wife shift the feeding spot a little away from the gate but the complaints remain the same. Some residents threaten Mr A and the next day he finds the bowls broken. Soon after, he sees the guards chasing away the community dogs who are hungry and thirsty.
Peaceful coexistence is a real necessity of the times. Humans and dogs have been living together for thousands of years, with dogs becoming companion animals for humans. The planet is not exclusively ours, but belongs to all animals too. We share the planet with them. Every situation mentioned above could have been tackled differently for the benefit of both parties.
If Mrs B is paranoid of dogs, she could have taken the next elevator or politely asked the dog walker to step out and take the next one. There can be a designated lift for pet parents and their pets.
Champ could get a run in the park and feel the wind in his hair if only residents could allow pets for two hours in the park. Pet parents would need to clean up after their pets and fines could be imposed on those who don’t.
As for Mr A, he and his wife should be allowed to feed outside away from the gate. The RWA should have no say in anything outside the society premises. If community dogs are not fed they could become aggressive. And it’s because of people like Mr A that dogs can be sterilised and vaccinated. The more friendly a dog, the easier it is to vaccinate him and get him sterilised.
Coexistence with animals is not just about being kind. It is a necessity for survival, social stability and psychological health. Pushing them out of our urban spaces means we are breaking systems that support our own well-being. Community animals play a massive role in maintaining urban hygiene and shield us from zoonotic outbreaks. Children who grow up with animals learn empathy, boundary-recognition, and compassion early on. And most important of all is the direct statistical correlation between animal abuse and violence against humans. It has been proved that those who perpetuate cruelty towards animals are also capable of domestic abuse, assault, and other anti-social behaviour.
By protecting community dogs like Mikey and coexisting peacefully with those who share the planet with us, humans are protecting their own safety, and preserving their own humanity.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
