Kolkata has earned the distinction of being the most vegan-friendly city in India for 2025, according to PETA India. The recognition comes in light of the city’s increasing number of vegan restaurants, cafes, and plant-based food options, alongside community initiatives promoting ethical eating and cruelty-free living.
The award reflects not just the culinary landscape but also the efforts of local residents and businesses to embrace veganism and promote awareness about animal welfare. PETA India highlighted Kolkata’s commitment to creating an inclusive environment for vegans and the growing popularity of plant-based diets among its population. The announcement also aims to inspire other cities across India to adopt more vegan-friendly practices and support sustainable, compassionate food choices.
Written by Intern Queeny George M.H , Team Allycaral
Rajasthan has become the first and only state in India to actively implement the Supreme Court’s orders on the feeding of stray dogs. This move comes after months of national-level debate around whether feeding strays in public spaces is a right or a nuisance. The Supreme Court eventually took up the matter with seriousness, emphasizing that a humane, regulated, and public-health-conscious approach must be taken.
Acting on this, Rajasthan has begun setting up designated ‘feeding spots’ across urban areas, specifically for stray dogs, often referred to as Indies. These spots will not only ensure that feeding is carried out in an orderly and hygienic manner but also serve as a location point for further care — such as vaccinations and sterilisation. This aligns with the court’s recommendation to both feed and control the population through responsible methods.
India’s stray dog population is a staggering one. As per varying data, the number ranges anywhere between 15 million to nearly 60 million. With such numbers, concerns over animal health, public sanitation, and human-animal conflict are understandable. However, Rajasthan’s initiative is an example of balancing empathy with action.
This thoughtful step reflects a friendlier attitude toward street animals while still addressing public safety concerns. It affirms the understanding that stray dogs, though ownerless, are still living beings deserving of structured care and kindness. The decision to introduce feeding zones makes Rajasthan the first mover in a nationwide conversation around animal rights, urban responsibility, and compassionate coexistence.
As India continues to urbanize, such policies may well become essential parts of modern civic planning. Rajasthan has shown that compassion and governance can go hand in hand — and perhaps other states will soon follow.
On a warm Sunday afternoon at Azad Maidan, Panaji, a large crowd of dog lovers, activists, and concerned citizens gathered under the banner of the Goa Animal Federation (GAF) in a unified show of support for humane community dog management. The event, which served both as a protest and a thanksgiving to the Supreme Court of India, was attended by several hundred animal lovers, all echoing one central demand: mass sterilization and vaccination of community dogs must begin immediately across Goa.
Prominent voices in Goa’s animal welfare movement—including Advocate Norma Alvarez, singer Hema Sardesai, K.D. Row, Prakash Kamat, Dexter Braganza, and Fidoli Pereira—were present, alongside GAF members and NGO representatives. They extended heartfelt gratitude to the Supreme Court for its recent revised order, which offers a humane, scientific, and sustainable framework to address the stray dog issue across India.
According to GAF, Goa currently has a sterilization capacity of 15,000 dogs per year, a number maintained largely by private NGOs. However, to effectively manage the stray dog population, Goa must reach a target of 50,000 dogs sterilized annually. Only then can the state hope to reach an 80–90% sterilization rate within the next three years, which would naturally reduce the population over the next 5–6 years due to the dogs’ life cycle.
“This is a public safety, animal welfare, and community health issue. Without aggressive government intervention, we’re delaying the solution,” said a GAF spokesperson.
Beyond sterilization, the GAF has also called on the government to:
Install at least two animal body incinerators in Goa for safe and hygienic disposal
Fulfill its long-standing promise of a 24×7 ambulance and veterinary clinic for stray animals
These facilities, they argue, are essential for upholding humane standards while addressing public health concerns and ensuring dignity for animals—even in death.
The Goa Animal Federation, which includes major animal welfare organizations across the state, reiterated its commitment to a lawful, scientific, and compassionate approach in line with the Supreme Court’s directives.
Their goal is clear: ensure Goa sets an example for the rest of the country in resolving the stray dog issue not through violence or fear, but through compassion, planning, and responsibility.
“Dog lovers aren’t just emotional people—they are citizens fighting for a sustainable, safe, and humane solution,” the press release concluded.
In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court of India has extended its earlier order on stray dogs—originally applicable only to Delhi-NCR—to the entire nation.
The Court has directed that stray dogs should be taken to shelters, vaccinated, and then released back into the same area they were picked up from. This aims to ensure better animal welfare while addressing concerns of public safety.
At the same time, the Court has banned feeding of stray dogs in public spaces, cautioning that those who violate this directive will face appropriate legal action.
The ruling reflects an attempt to strike a balance between protecting citizens from stray dog attacks and ensuring humane treatment of animals.
Animal welfare activists have welcomed the vaccination mandate but expressed concern over the feeding ban, suggesting that designated feeding zones could be a more compassionate solution.
The decision is expected to significantly impact urban local bodies, NGOs, and citizens who engage in stray animal care across India.
Copenhagen, Denmark – A zoo in Denmark has ignited international outrage after encouraging citizens to donate their unwanted small pets—such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters—as food for its predators.
The zoo claims the controversial request is part of its mission to provide animals with a “naturalistic feeding experience,” replicating how carnivores hunt and consume live prey in the wild. However, this decision has triggered a heated ethical debate, especially among animal rights organizations and pet lovers across the world.
Why the Zoo Made the Request
According to zoo officials, feeding predators live or freshly killed prey mimics wild behavior, enriches the lives of carnivorous animals, and teaches visitors about the food chain. They say many people abandon their small pets or leave them in shelters, and this donation drive gives them a purpose in nature’s cycle.
Public Backlash and Ethical Concerns
Animal welfare advocates argue that using former pets as food—even if already deceased—is deeply unethical and traumatic for both donors and onlookers. Social media has been flooded with criticism, with many questioning the moral line between sustainability and cruelty.
Animal rights group PETA called the move “disturbing and insensitive,” adding that it “devalues the bond between humans and companion animals.”
Legal and Cultural Perspectives
Denmark’s regulations around live feeding are among the more relaxed in Europe, and similar incidents in the past have sparked debates. In 2014, another Danish zoo caused global backlash after euthanizing a healthy giraffe in front of children and feeding it to lions.
This latest incident may reignite calls for more stringent animal rights legislation and transparent zoo policies across Europe.
Final Thoughts
The zoo stands by its decision, but the public response signals a shift in how people want animals—especially pets—to be treated. While natural feeding may have scientific merit, emotional and ethical boundaries remain under scrutiny.
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