Supreme Court of India Adjusts Stance on Stray Dog Management

In a surprising decision, India's Supreme Court has revised its previous stance on managing the burgeoning stray dog population in Delhi, a move inspired by escalating demonstrations from animal welfare groups.

India's Supreme Court has taken a significant step back from its directive to round up all stray dogs in Delhi, initially introduced amid rising concerns over dog bites and rabies. The court's three-judge bench announced that only dogs that exhibit aggressive behavior or show signs of rabies would be relocated to shelters. In a compromise, the court permitted the release of vaccinated and sterilized strays back to their original locations, aiming to minimize overcrowding in shelters, as the country's strays are estimated to be close to one million.

This decision comes on the heels of protests from various animal rights organizations, which argued for more humane solutions such as vaccination and neutering instead of mass removals. The earlier ruling had called for a swift construction of shelters to house all identified strays within a tight timeline. Critics warned that such an approach would lead to significant complications, including overwhelming shelter capacities and potential culling of the dogs.

In its latest ruling, the court has mandated the establishment of designated feeding areas for strays, along with a warning against feeding them in public places, targeting those who directly disrupt the implementation of these new guidelines. Additionally, the bench opened the door for interested individuals to apply for adoption of the vaccinated strays, while ensuring that returned dogs would not be allowed back into the streets. Furthermore, the Supreme Court has hinted at developing a comprehensive national policy regarding stray dog management, recognizing a consistent need across various states in India.