The Non Vegetarian Dog Lovers

In Indian cities today, the phrase “dog lover” is worn like a badge of compassion. It paints a picture of someone who cares deeply for animals, someone whose heart melts at wagging tails and soulful eyes. And indeed, many genuinely do. But there’s an uncomfortable truth lurking in the background — a hypocrisy that we rarely talk about.

These self-proclaimed animal lovers can sometimes be shockingly selective in their empathy. They will passionately defend street dogs, post tearful social media stories, and protest against any perceived harm to them — and then happily eat chicken biryani for dinner. They’ll rail against cruelty to dogs while ignoring the equally horrific cruelty inflicted on cows, goats, fish, or chickens in slaughterhouses.

The psychology behind it is simple: humans tend to empathize more with creatures that they can relate to emotionally, physically, or socially. Dogs have evolved alongside humans for thousands of years; they live in our homes, share our emotional space, and give us unconditional affection. In short, we “humanize” dogs far more easily than we do a chicken, a pig, or a fish. This in-group empathy works exactly like human social biases — we care deeply about those who feel like “us” and ignore or rationalize harm to those who don’t. In other words, it’s not pure compassion; it’s tribalism dressed up as kindness.

The irony becomes dangerous when selective empathy blinds people to other realities — like the growing stray dog crisis in Indian cities. Over the past few years, there has been a surge in reported dog attacks — some leading to serious injuries, and in tragic cases, even deaths.

Yet, some urban dog lovers refuse to acknowledge this problem, framing all concerns as “hate” towards dogs. They romanticize the idea of street dogs as harmless community pets, while ignoring evidence and real experiences of fear and trauma faced by pedestrians, children, and the elderly. The same people who shout “dogs are family” sometimes fail to extend the same protective instinct towards in their neighborhood.

Real compassion doesn’t have a favorite. It extends beyond cuteness, familiarity, or convenience. If you call yourself an “animal lover,” you should be able to hold two truths:

Street dogs deserve care, humane treatment, and responsible management. Other animals — and your fellow human beings — deserve the same empathy and protection. It means working for sterilization programs and supporting ethical food choices. It means protecting people from stray attacks and opposing cruelty in slaughterhouses. It means empathy without borders.