Rupali Ganguly on Supreme Court’s revised order on stray dogs! Says animal welfare is a way of life for me

On August 22, the Supreme Court modified its earlier suo motu directive that had required permanent relocation of stray dogs across NCR. The court has now directed that stray dogs can now be released back into their original habitats after undergoing sterilisation and vaccination.

Anupamaa actress Rupali Ganguly, who is actively involved in caring for community dogs around Film City in Goregaon, is among those celebrating the decision. “For now, I just want to thank the Supreme Court for this step,” she says. Expressing gratitude for the directive, Rupali Ganguly says, “It is now upon the government bodies, municipal corporations, animal lovers and NGOs to work hand in hand.”‘I have been involved with animal welfare work for the last 40 years’Rupali has consistently used social media to advocate for animal rights.

She says, “I have been involved with animal welfare work for the last 40 years. I’ve never spoken about it, kyunki kehte hain na neki kar aur dariya mein daal. Lekin shayad ab samay aa gaya hai iss baare mein baat karne ka. I work with people like Rajan Shahi (producer of Anupamaa) who love animals. My husband (Ashwin K Verma) is an animal lover and we have a cottage where I can bring rescued animals.

My son has been around these homeless animals since he was born.

So, animal welfare is a way of life for me.”‘I’ve sterilised all the dogs on my sets’Rupali reveals that she sometimes faces criticism for standing up for animal rights. Addressing the backlash, she says, “I just want to tell those people that let there be kindness. As human beings, we have no right to do away with another living being. Why do humans think that we are superior and that we have the right to own every piece of land that there is? We should show compassion and empathy towards animals.”Emphasising the importance of effective solutions to manage the stray dog population, she shares, “I have sterilised all the dogs on my sets and in Film City. As a responsible feeder, I also get them vaccinated. The only way forward isABC – sterilisation, spaying and vaccination.”

"Get the latest updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2."