Delhi sees city-wide canine capture following judicial order by Indian court
In the bustling city of New Delhi, a contentious decision by the Supreme Court has sent waves through local communities and animal welfare organisations. The court has ordered the removal of tens of thousands of stray dogs from the city and its suburbs, a move aimed at reducing dog bites and rabies cases.
However, this directive has raised significant concerns, as many of these stray dogs are cherished by their middle-class neighbourhood residents, despite lacking formal owners. The court has issued a warning of action against animal activists who obstruct the removal of dogs.
The central strategy to address the stray dog population, rabies, and public safety in Delhi has been the humane Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. These rules emphasise the Capture–Neuter–Vaccinate–Release (CNVR) approach, with urban local bodies, supported by animal welfare organisations, mandated to carry out large-scale sterilisation and vaccination programs.
The government has revised schemes for financial and operational support via the Animal Welfare Board of India to further bolster these efforts. Despite evidence that CNVR programs have effectively decreased rabies deaths and stabilised dog populations without disrupting community ecosystems, the Supreme Court's recent order for mass removal risks overcrowding shelters and potentially leading to malnutrition, disease outbreaks, stress, injuries, and death among confined dogs.
Research supports that most human interactions with street dogs are peaceful, and large-scale mass removal may harm both animal welfare and long-term public safety by disrupting the ecological balance achieved by CNVR programs. Many of the dogs targeted for removal are already sterilised and vaccinated, meaning forbidding their return could negate previous public health gains.
At least 60,000 stray dogs live on the streets of Delhi, according to the Livestock Census of 2012. To address this, the court has asked city authorities to set up dog shelters within eight weeks. The court's order states that no captured stray dog should be released, applicable to Delhi and its satellite suburbs.
The Supreme Court has also ordered the establishment of a 24-hour helpline for reporting dog bites in Delhi. Officials have been instructed to publicize locations where anti-rabies vaccines are available. The number of stray dogs in Delhi is believed to be much higher now.
In an effort to keep stray dogs warm during the winter, some are clothed in special canine jackets. City authorities have been instructed to maintain daily records of the captured canines.
India accounts for more than a third of global rabies deaths, and in 2024, over 3.7 million cases of dog bites and 54 suspected human deaths from rabies were reported in India. The order was issued due to public safety concerns following a surge in dog bites.
This complex balance between public safety, animal welfare, and practical implementation challenges in managing Delhi’s large stray dog population continues to be a topic of intense debate. The future of these stray dogs, their welfare, and the effectiveness of the Supreme Court's order remain uncertain.
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