Discover the Supreme Court ruling on stray dogs and learn how to sterilise street dogs in your neighbourhood with this guide to rabies prevention and animal welfare.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court of India has recently revised its directive on the management of stray dogs, striking a balance between public safety and animal welfare. The earlier order, passed on August 11, had mandated the relocation of all stray dogs in Delhi and surrounding areas to shelters. This sparked city-wide protests from animal lovers, citing impracticality and cruelty. Recognising the concerns, the Court has now laid down a more humane approach.
Under the new ruling, stray dogs will be sterilised, vaccinated, and returned to their original neighbourhoods, unless they are rabid or exhibit aggressive behaviour. This decision acknowledges the high incidence of dog bites in Delhi, where hospitals report nearly 2,000 cases daily, while also respecting the rights and well-being of stray animals.
How To Sterilise Dogs In Your Neighbourhood
The Supreme Court’s directive places a responsibility on citizens and resident welfare associations (RWAs) to work alongside municipal bodies. Here’s how communities can actively help:
- Survey Early Morning – Walk around your colony and note the number of stray dogs and puppies.
- Take Pictures – Record their markings and usual locations to ensure they are returned to the same spot after surgery.
- Involve Feeders – People who regularly feed stray dogs know their routines and can help catch them humanely.
- Coordinate with an NGO – Contact municipal authorities or NGOs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.
- Transport Safely – Park the van away from the dogs. Ensure only trained catchers use nets (not sticks or nooses) to avoid harm.
- Return Responsibly – Release dogs only after they heal properly.
- Feed Responsibly – Use designated feeding zones, keeping the surroundings clean and safe.
- Vaccinate Against Rabies – Sterilised dogs must also be vaccinated under veterinary supervision.
This collaborative approach ensures safe, healthy, and well-managed neighbourhoods while upholding compassion for animals.
Understanding Rabies
Dogs are the main carriers of rabies in India, accounting for nearly 97% of human rabies cases. Rabies is a deadly viral disease that attacks the nervous system, particularly the brain and spinal cord. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), rabies is one of the oldest known diseases and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
Key Facts About Rabies:
- Present in 150+ countries, mostly in Asia and Africa.
- Causes 59,000 deaths annually; 40% of victims are children under 15.
- 99% of human cases come from dog bites or scratches.
- Once symptoms appear, rabies is 100% fatal.
- Rabies deaths are preventable through Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) – wound washing, vaccines, and rabies immunoglobulins (RIG).
- Mass dog vaccination is the most cost-effective prevention strategy.
Symptoms:
- Incubation: 2–3 months (sometimes 1 week to 1 year).
- Early signs: Fever, pain, tingling at the bite site.
- Advanced: Hydrophobia (fear of water), aerophobia, hyperactivity, paralysis, coma, and death.
Prevention & Control:
- Vaccinate dogs – the primary source of rabies.
- Public awareness on bite prevention and responsible pet care.
- Human vaccines available for both pre-exposure (PrEP) and post-exposure (PEP).
- PEP protocol: Wound washing + rabies vaccine + RIG (if needed).
- WHO recommends intradermal (ID) vaccination to cut costs by 60–80% while maintaining effectiveness.
Global Response:
- WHO aims for “Zero by 30” – ending dog-mediated human rabies deaths by 2030.
- Strategy: Mass dog vaccination, better access to PEP, training health workers, surveillance, and community education
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Rabies in India: A Preventable Tragedy
Each year, rabies claims over 55,000 lives globally, with the majority of deaths occurring in Asia and Africa. India is among the worst-affected countries, accounting for nearly 36% of the world’s rabies deaths (Health Ministry data).
The tragedy, however, is that rabies deaths are 100% preventable with timely vaccination. Both pre-exposure and post-exposure vaccines save lives, making awareness and accessibility crucial.
Stray Dog Control with ABC Rules, 2023
The Central Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling the stray dog menace through humane and scientific methods. Under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, local bodies are mandated to implement the Capture–Neuter–Vaccinate–Release (CNVR) programme in partnership with animal welfare organisations.
On July 16, 2025, States were urged to establish dedicated ABC units and sterilise at least 70% of stray dogs. Financial support has been announced: up to Rs 800 per dog, Rs 600 per cat, one-time grants of Rs 2 crore for veterinary hospitals, and assistance for animal shelters.
The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has also issued guidelines on adoption, community dog management, and maintaining dog-bite data. The revised ABC module (Aug 11, 2025) focuses on controlling population, reducing rabies, and managing man-dog conflicts.
Parallelly, the National Rabies Control Programme and National Action Plan for Dog-Mediated Rabies Elimination (2021) continue under the Health Ministry.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court clarified its August 11 order directing authorities in Delhi-NCR to remove stray dogs from localities, citing decades of administrative failure. The Court stressed that the order seeks to balance public safety and animal welfare.
What the Supreme Court Said
On August 22, 2025, a three-judge special bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath, along with Justices Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria, modified its earlier August 11 order that had prohibited the release of stray dogs from shelters.
The new directions state that:
- Stray dogs picked up by municipal authorities must be sterilised, vaccinated, dewormed, and released back into the same area they were taken.
- Dogs infected with rabies, suspected of being infected, or showing aggressive behaviour should not be released back into the streets. Instead, they should be sterilised, immunised, and kept in separate pounds or shelters.
- Municipal bodies must create dedicated feeding spaces for stray dogs in every ward to ensure structured management.
The bench emphasized that the revised directions aim to reduce public health risks while also upholding animal rights.
CASE TITLE:
IN RE: CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE
SMW(C) No. 5/2025
READ ORIGINAL ORDER WHICH CREATED HAVOC AROUND COUNTRY:
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