Few cases before the Supreme Court have generated as much heat, howling and tail-wagging as the one on stray dogs. For once, the court appears to have realised a hard truth: there are no easy solutions once man decided—since time immemorial—to treat the dog as his best friend.

Mythology meets modern law

In the Mahabharata, Yudhishthira is willing to forgo heaven itself if his canine companion is denied entry. Heaven could wait; the dog could not. So when, in November, the apex court ordered the removal of stray dogs from public places to shelter homes, many citizens heaved a sigh of relief—until they discovered that the order had stepped squarely on the sensitive toes of India’s formidable dog lovers.

Rise of a powerful lobby

Today, they are........

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