In the recent podcast with Smita Prakash, Sonali Bendre voiced her support for stray dogs. The actress known for the iconic Nirma ad emphasized the importance of showing compassion toward the basic survival needs of animals.

“Should it not be mandatory for anybody who creates a society here to kind of find a little corner in your society? Make that corner safe, see to it that the ones who are scared of dogs and the ones who want to take care of them have a little place. You feed them there, you neuter them, you vaccinate them, you put collars on them…” Sonali said in the podcast with ANI.

There is no doubt that stray dogs can be lethal as we have seen in many news where children have been mauled to death by stray dog.

However, such news reports often overlook the perspective that an animal subjected to years of torture, starvation, and inhumane treatment may exhibit unpredictable or unprovoked aggression toward humans.

In India, it is rare to see ordinary people extending kindness to stray dogs. Usually, both children and adults are seen deriving amusement from throwing stones or deliberately scaring them without provocation.

Such repeated acts of cruelty, coupled with regular hunger and thirst, can drive even the gentlest of living beings to react aggressively.

Sonali’s view on stray dogs comes at a time when a popular actor Tinu Anand was in the limelight few weeks ago for threatening stray dogs with his hockey stick. The actor responded that his act was to ensure his protection citing his old age.

Over the years, both the Supreme Courts and High Courts in India have delivered numerous judgments that acknowledge the need to ensure a safe environment for senior citizens, children, and persons with disabilities in the presence of stray dogs.

However, these rulings have also emphasized that safety measures must be balanced with compassion, and that the stray animal must be treated with care, dignity, and respect.

Sonali is amongst those few bollywood celebrities who have come in support of the welfare of stray dogs. In a country where celebrities holds a massive power over public’s perception, Sonali’s advocacy for Stray Dogs welfare will influence public perception and foster greater awareness in India.

Sonali’s Podcast Channel

For the people who don’t know, Sonali is running a podcast channel these days by the name of “RosePod”. The show is about pets and discusses about their relevant information.