India’s Supreme Court Modifies Controversial Stray Dog Order, Mandating Sterilization and Release
India’s Supreme Court Modifies Controversial Stray Dog Order, Mandating Sterilization and Release
New Delhi, India – India’s Supreme Court has issued a significant modification to its earlier directive on stray dogs, bringing a wave of relief to animal welfare advocates across the nation. The court’s updated ruling, issued this past Friday, clarifies that stray dogs picked up by authorities are to be sterilized and immunized before being released back into their original areas. Only animals found to be rabid or overly aggressive will be permanently removed from the streets.
This revised order overturns a highly controversial decision made on August 12, which had mandated the rounding up and permanent sheltering of all stray dogs in the capital territory within eight weeks. That initial directive had sparked widespread panic among animal lovers and organizations, who argued that Delhi’s infrastructure was woefully inadequate to house an estimated one million stray animals.
The Supreme Court’s latest ruling applies nationwide and also includes provisions banning the public distribution of food to dogs, instead calling for the creation of designated feeding areas. Veterinarian Dr. Sarungbam Yaiphabi Devi praised the verdict, stating, “It looks like the court definitely kept the public pulse in mind because so many people came out across India for their neighborhood dogs.”
India faces a complex challenge with its vast stray dog population, estimated at 62 million nationwide. While many live harmoniously with humans, concerns over public safety, particularly dog attacks and the high incidence of rabies, have fueled calls for population control. The 2001 law mandates humane management through neutering and vaccination, but effective implementation has been hampered by limited funding and infrastructure.
Animal feeders like Himanshi Varma, who has dedicated seven years to caring for New Delhi’s strays, expressed profound relief. Despite some remaining questions about the definition of an ‘aggressive’ dog, the core of the decision offers a reprieve for the animals she lovingly calls her ‘kids’. The modified ruling seeks to balance public safety with animal welfare, a long-standing debate in a country with deep cultural respect for animals.
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