Animal Rights Groups Challenge Supreme Court Stray Dog Order
Animal welfare organisations have strongly opposed the Supreme Court’s directive to remove all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi and nearby cities, including Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad, within eight weeks. The order mandates that the dogs be sterilised, vaccinated, and shifted to shelters without being released back to their original locations. The court’s decision follows concerns over rising rabies cases and frequent dog-bite incidents, particularly involving children.
Criticism Over Feasibility and Approach
Groups such as PETA India have condemned the move as “unscientific” and “ineffective,” arguing it bypasses the proven Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, which advocates sterilisation and vaccination without displacement. They point out that the infrastructure to house such a large number of animals does not currently exist and that forcing mass relocation could lead to overcrowded shelters, poor animal welfare, and community unrest.
Public Safety Versus Animal Welfare
Supporters of the ruling stress the urgency of addressing public safety risks, citing the need to curb rabies and prevent attacks. However, animal rights advocates argue that effective enforcement of ABC rules, coupled with better public awareness and responsible pet ownership, would achieve the same goal without violating animal welfare principles. The debate now centres on whether the court’s directive can balance both public safety and ethical treatment of animals.
