Nationwide Strray Dog Problem: Five Indian States Ponder Adopting Delhi's Resettlement Decree
In the heart of South Asia, the question of what kind of society India aspires to be is becoming increasingly clear, as courts issue contradictory orders and no solutions that don't involve euthanasia present themselves in the ongoing stray dog crisis.
The Supreme Court's ruling in 2025, particularly for the Delhi-NCR region, has served as a guide for other states in their plans to relocate stray dogs. However, the implementation of these directives has been met with challenges.
Initially, in August 2025, the Supreme Court ordered the removal and permanent sheltering of stray dogs from all localities within Delhi-NCR in response to rising dog bite cases and public safety concerns. This order was later revised, mandating that stray dogs cannot be permanently removed but must instead be humanely captured, sterilized, vaccinated, especially against rabies, and then released back into the same area they were found.
This ruling aimed to balance public safety concerns, such as reducing dog bites and rabies transmission, with animal welfare and humane treatment. However, it has sparked debates around implementation challenges, animal welfare advocates' insistence on humane sterilization programs, and the need for better infrastructure and funding to scale sterilization and vaccination programs effectively across states.
The tension between animal welfare advocates and some public calls for permanent removal or euthanasia of strays to address safety fears persists. For instance, the 2023 ABC Rules state that sterilized dogs are to be returned to their territory, which is inconsistent with the Supreme Court's recent order.
Meanwhile, states like Uttar Pradesh, with 1.2 million stray dogs in cities like Lucknow and Kanpur, are grappling with increasing incidents of attacks on pilgrims in Ayodhya. The Delhi shelters, mandated to have a 5,000 capacity and CCTV cameras, face concerns about potential overcrowding and safety among the dogs.
As the debate continues, organisations like PETA India advocate for "Sterilization and vaccination" (ABC programs) as a solution to reduce rabies cases. However, the Solicitor General has stated that only relocation will remove rabies. This fundamental conflict between advocates for humane and scientific solutions and the Supreme Court's directive for relocation as the only solution to address rabies remains unresolved.
The stray dog crisis in India has led to a conflict between ensuring safety for people and upholding the country's responsibility to care for all sentient beings. The Netherlands, for instance, practices wholesale sterilizations and fines for abandonment without shelters for stray dogs.
At least five states in India (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal) are discussing plans for relocating stray dogs due to high bite numbers. In 2024, 3.7 million dog bites were reported in India, with rising rabies deaths. Time is running out for Indian states to make a decision that balances safety and compassion in addressing the stray dog crisis.
The Supreme Court's ruling on stray dogs in 2025, initially mandating their removal from Delhi-NCR, has evolved to focus on humane capture, sterilization, vaccination, and re-release. Yet, the implementation and resolution of these guidelines continue to spark debates in the realm of general-news, including politics and crime-and-justice, as states grapple with the stray dog crisis. The conflicting approaches, such as those suggested by animal welfare advocates and the Solicitor General, underscore the need for a comprehensive and humane solution to the growing problem.
