The animals require food, water, shelter, normal behaviour, medical care, self-determination,' it said. Animals breathe like us and have emotions. Cruelty to animals causes psychological pain to them. No pain or agony should be caused to the animals. Animals may be mute but we as a society have to speak on their behalf.

'We have to show compassion towards all living creatures. Therefore, protection of such beings is the moral responsibility of each and every citizen including the governmental and non-governmental organisations. Animals are sentient creatures with an intrinsic value.

'Animals have a right under law to be treated with compassion, respect and dignity. The court said there is a need to spread awareness that animals have a right to live with respect and dignity and asked the AWBI to carry out an awareness campaign in association with media. The court formed a committee, comprising the Director of Animal Husbandry Department or his nominee, senior officers of all municipal corporations, Delhi Cantonment Board and certain advocates, to implement the guidelines and asked it to hold its first meeting within four weeks. The verdict also discussed dog categories based on the roles they play - service, therapy, rescue, hunting, tracking, cadaver, detection, police, and cancer detection dogs. Later, a settlement took place between the two and a designated place was fixed for feeding the canines. One of them sought direction to restrain the other from feeding street dogs near the entrance of a property. The court's order came in a case of dispute between two residents of a locality on the issue of feeding stray dogs. 'Community dogs (stray/street dogs) have the right to food and citizens have the right to feed community dogs but in exercising this right, care and caution should be taken to ensure that it does not impinge upon the rights of others or cause any harm, hindrance, harassment and nuisance to other individuals or members of the society,' Justice J R Midha said in a recent 86-page verdict.

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