In light of widespread protests from animal welfare groups, India's Supreme Court has reformed its earlier decision mandating the relocation of stray dogs in Delhi and its suburbs to shelters. Rather than an outright removal, a three-judge bench ruled that non-aggressive and vaccination-eligible strays could return to their original locations post-vaccination and sterilization. However, dogs deemed aggressive or rabid should be immunized and placed in shelters. Furthermore, the court has prohibited the feeding of strays in public areas, designating specific locations for this purpose.
The original order, issued on August 11, raised alarms regarding the increasing "menace of dog bites leading to rabies" in Delhi, which has a stray dog population estimated at one million, with notable increases in nearby suburbs like Noida and Ghaziabad. With India reporting 36% of global rabies-related fatalities, municipal sources indicated a pressing need to tackle the situation.
The earlier ruling contradicted existing regulations mandating that sterilized strays be returned to their capture sites. In response, animal welfare advocates protested against the inhumane aspects of mass sheltering, arguing for more compassionate strategies like neutering and vaccination. Following heated discussions, the Supreme Court re-evaluated its stance, leading to the appointment of a three-judge panel to reconsider the decision.
In its recent judgment, the court emphasized that individuals interested in adopting strays could apply to local municipal corporations but must refrain from returning these animals to the streets. Additionally, the court warned individuals against feeding stray dogs in public while signaling readiness to formulate a national policy on stray dog management in response to ongoing cases across various states.
The original order, issued on August 11, raised alarms regarding the increasing "menace of dog bites leading to rabies" in Delhi, which has a stray dog population estimated at one million, with notable increases in nearby suburbs like Noida and Ghaziabad. With India reporting 36% of global rabies-related fatalities, municipal sources indicated a pressing need to tackle the situation.
The earlier ruling contradicted existing regulations mandating that sterilized strays be returned to their capture sites. In response, animal welfare advocates protested against the inhumane aspects of mass sheltering, arguing for more compassionate strategies like neutering and vaccination. Following heated discussions, the Supreme Court re-evaluated its stance, leading to the appointment of a three-judge panel to reconsider the decision.
In its recent judgment, the court emphasized that individuals interested in adopting strays could apply to local municipal corporations but must refrain from returning these animals to the streets. Additionally, the court warned individuals against feeding stray dogs in public while signaling readiness to formulate a national policy on stray dog management in response to ongoing cases across various states.
