Explore the Supreme Court’s latest order on stray dogs in Delhi, understand why rabies is deadly, the health risks of dog bites, and essential steps to stay safe.
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NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on 11 August directed Delhi and its neighbouring towns to catch every street dog within eight weeks, keep them in pounds permanently, and rapidly expand shelter capacity. The reason was, India records roughly 30,000 dog bite cases every year, and rabies, though preventable, still claims lives, particularly among those who struggle to access timely treatment.
This order clashes with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which mandate that healthy street dogs should be sterilized, vaccinated, and released back into their territory. Permanent confinement is only allowed for rabid, incurably ill, or dangerously aggressive dogs.
The challenge: sterilization drives have been patchy and slow, rarely reaching the 70% coverage needed to effectively control reproduction. Meanwhile, hospitals are seeing the real-life consequences of rising street dog populations.
Dog Bites: A Real Public Health Concern
For doctors, street dog debates translate into serious medical cases.
“Right now, we manage 40–50 animal bite cases a month, most of them from stray dogs,”
says Dr. Anurag Aggarwal, Director & HOD, Emergency Medicine & Trauma, Fortis Hospital, Noida.
Bites are categorized as follows:
- Category I: Touching or feeding animals, licks on intact skin, no treatment needed
- Category II: Minor scratches or nibbling on unbroken skin, vaccine required
- Category III: Deep bites, wounds, or contamination of mucous membranes, vaccine and immunoglobulin required
Most cases fall under Category II and III, posing a high risk of rabies. Children under 15 are especially vulnerable, often bitten on the face or arms, increasing the likelihood of severe complications.
“Children can’t protect themselves as well as adults and often react incorrectly to aggressive dogs,”
explains Dr. Aggarwal.
Bite cases also spike during monsoon months, when stray dog activity peaks.
Rabies: Rare, Deadly, But Preventable
Rabies is almost 100% fatal once symptoms appear, but completely preventable if treatment is administered promptly. The virus attacks the brain and nervous system, causing flu-like symptoms initially, followed by confusion, hallucinations, paralysis, and eventually death.
“Even one missed dose of the rabies vaccine can be the difference between life and death,”
warns Dr. Aggarwal.
Treatment depends on the bite category, using anti-rabies vaccines (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). For high-risk bites, especially on the face, head, or neck, RIG must be injected directly into and around the wound for maximum effectiveness, ideally within 7 days.
Essential Safety Tips
Whether or not the Supreme Court order is fully implemented, dog bites and rabies remain a serious risk. Experts recommend:
- Seek immediate medical care after any bite, even minor scratches.
- Wash wounds thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes.
- Start the rabies vaccine schedule immediately and complete every dose.
- Ask about RIG for high-risk bites.
- Educate children on how to safely interact with dogs, avoid teasing, touching food, or approaching unknown dogs.
The Health Impact
India continues to bear one of the highest rabies burdens in the world. Experts argue that alongside legal and administrative measures, there’s a need for:
- Community-level dog vaccination drives
- Stronger public awareness campaigns
- Better access to post-bite treatment, especially rabies immunoglobulin
“Despite available vaccines, RIG is expensive and often hard to find,”
notes Dr. Neha Rastogi Panda, Consultant, Infectious Diseases, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram.
CASE TITLE:
IN RE: CITY HOUNDED BY STRAYS, KIDS PAY PRICE
SMW(C) No. 5/2025
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