Tamil Nadu records 3.67 lakh dog bite cases and 20 rabies deaths in 2025. Madras High Court may enforce the Supreme Court’s street dog order to address safety and welfare concerns.
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CHENNAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court is set to deliberate on a critical issue impacting public safety and animal welfare across Tamil Nadu, the management of street dogs. On Tuesday, during the hearing of multiple petitions concerning stray animals, including those related to stray cattle and dogs, the Bench signaled its intent to potentially direct the Tamil Nadu government to implement the Supreme Court’s recent comprehensive guidelines on street dog management, similar to those ordered in Delhi.
The petitions brought data to the court’s attention: Tamil Nadu has reportedly recorded 3.67 lakh dog bite cases and 20 deaths due to dog-bite-related rabies in 2025 alone. Such staggering figures have intensified calls for urgent intervention to curb this public health menace.
One of the petitions raised concerns about a particular temple where street dogs allegedly bit devotees, instilling fear of rabies outbreaks and raising questions about public safety in religious places.
The Madurai Bench is expected to carefully review the Supreme Court’s detailed guidelines before issuing formal orders that could reshape the state’s approach to stray dog management. These potential directives may influence municipal responsibilities, sterilisation drives, shelter provisions, vaccination programs, and public education campaigns.
However, the issue has sparked mixed reactions:
- Animal Welfare Advocates: Many activists emphasize the importance of humane treatment, urging the court to prioritize the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, which advocates sterilisation and vaccination rather than aggressive removal or culling. One activist highlighted that “dogs have equal rights to live in this world,” warning that poorly planned crackdowns could lead to widespread neglect or starvation among street dogs.
- Residents and Civic Activists: On the other hand, several residents and activists argue that human lives must come first. They stress that the alarming rise in dog bite incidents, including fatal cases, necessitates swift and decisive action to protect citizens. Many point out the lack of coordinated rabies control efforts across districts as a serious gap in public health management.
If the Madurai Bench decides to implement the Supreme Court’s Delhi model, Tamil Nadu could witness a state-wide overhaul in how street dogs are managed. This may include:
- Mandatory sterilisation and vaccination drives to control dog populations humanely.
- Establishment of better infrastructure and shelters for stray dogs.
- Enhanced coordination between municipal authorities and veterinary experts.
- Increased public awareness campaigns focused on dog bite prevention and rabies control.
- Clearer responsibilities are laid out for local bodies to ensure timely and effective action.
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