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Safe Streets for People. Safe Shelters for Dogs. Bite-Free Delhi-NCR Starts Now.

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Support Supreme Court's Order to Remove Stray Dogs from Delhi-NCR Streets: A Critical Public Safety Initiative

The Supreme Court of India has delivered a landmark judgment that addresses one of Delhi-NCR's most pressing public health crises. On August 11, 2025, the apex court issued comprehensive directives mandating the capture and permanent sheltering of stray dogs across the National Capital Region. This decision represents a crucial shift from the failing "catch-sterilize-release" policy toward a shelter-based approach that prioritizes both human safety and animal welfare.

The Stray Dog Crisis: Scale and Impact

Delhi-NCR faces an unprecedented stray dog population crisis. The capital alone houses an estimated one million stray dogs, with only 470,000 sterilized as of 2023 — leaving a critical gap that has fueled population growth. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reports 26,334 dog bite cases in 2025 through early August, with hospitals recording over 90,000 treated bite cases.

Rabies: A Fatal Threat

India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths, with an estimated 5,700-20,000 annual fatalities. The disease maintains a near-100% fatality rate once symptoms appear. Children comprise 40% of bite victims in rabies-endemic areas, making them the most vulnerable population. Delhi has reported 49 rabies cases through July 2025, highlighting the ongoing transmission risk despite existing control measures.

Dog bites occur every 10 seconds in India, totaling approximately 3 million cases annually. The scale of this crisis extends far beyond Delhi — Noida alone recorded over 52,700 dog bite cases from January to May 2025.

The Supreme Court's Comprehensive Order

The Supreme Court's five-point directive addresses the crisis through:

Immediate Action Requirements

Capture and Sheltering: All stray dogs must be removed from public spaces within 6-8 weeks
Infrastructure Development: Authorities must establish shelters accommodating at least 5,000 dogs with adequate staffing and CCTV surveillance.
Sterilization and Vaccination: All captured dogs must undergo medical procedures before sheltering.
No-Release Policy: Sterilized dogs cannot be returned to streets, breaking from existing Animal Birth Control Rules
Emergency Response: A helpline must be established for reporting dog bite incidents with 4-hour response requirements

The court explicitly warned that any individual or organization obstructing this process would face contempt proceedings, demonstrating the judiciary's commitment to implementation.

Why the Current System Has Failed

The existing Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules have proven inadequate for population control. Justice J.B. Pardiwala criticized these rules as "absurd," noting that sterilizing dogs and releasing them back to the same location defeats the purpose of population management.

Documented Failures of Catch-Sterilize-Release.

Research demonstrates that effective population control requires sterilizing at least 70% of the canine population within 6-12 months. With Delhi's current capacity of only 1.25 lakh annual sterilizations against the needed 4.5 lakh, achieving population stabilization remains impossible under the current system.

Territorial Aggression from Feeding Practices: Courts have recognized that feeding stray dogs creates territorial behavior, making them more aggressive toward perceived intruders. The Bangalore Municipal Corporation explicitly states that "territorial aggression, food aggression, fear aggression is natural to dogs which cannot be controlled".

We reject the irresponsible Voices that romanticise feeding dogs on streets while ignoring the pain and trauma of bite victims.

These self-proclaimed “dog lovers” often create filth by throwing stale food in front of other people’s houses, attracting packs of strays and spreading unhygienic conditions. They occupy public parks to turn them into feeding zones, leaving dog feces everywhere on Delhi’s streets and making common areas unsafe for children and elderly residents.

Whenever a genuine dog bite case occurs — even when the victim is a small child — they blame the victim instead of acknowledging the danger. They fight aggressively with concerned residents and oppose any measure that prioritizes public safety.

Their latest arguments against the Supreme Court’s decision are based on illogical comparisons — claiming that since the government hasn’t “removed” motor accidents or rape incidents, dogs should remain on the streets. This is not just absurd, it’s a dangerous distraction from an urgent and solvable problem.

They have never demanded proper shelters, sterilization drives, or long-term care facilities. Their only concern is to maintain the comfort and convenience of feeding dogs in public, regardless of the mess, disease risk, or danger to others.

Adding to the hypocrisy, most of them eat chicken and mutton without hesitation, yet claim the title of “animal lover” only when it comes to feeding stray dogs in unsafe public spaces.

Global Success Stories Validate the Shelter ApproachThe Netherlands: Complete Eradication

The Netherlands achieved the world's first stray-dog-free status through a comprehensive program combining:

Government-funded CNVR (Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) programs targeting over 70% of female dogs
Strict animal welfare laws with penalties up to €18,539 and three years imprisonment
High taxation on store-bought dogs to incentivize shelter adoption
Dedicated animal police force for enforcement

Japan: 65 Years Rabies-Free

Japan eliminated indigenous rabies in 1957 through:

Mandatory dog registration and annual vaccination
Strict confinement of stray dogs — not street release
Robust surveillance and quarantine systems
Civil servants appointed as rabies prevention officers

Singapore's Structured Approach

Singapore maintains effective stray management through

Systematic Trap-Neuter-Release-Manage (TNRM) programs
Target sterilization of over 70% of the estimated 7,000 strays
Close collaboration between government agencies and animal welfare groups
Shelters that accommodate 100 dogs at a time with professional management

Bhutan's Achievement

Bhutan became the first country to completely sterilize and vaccinate its entire stray population through a 14-year program that processed over 150,000 dogs. Significantly, this was achieved through systematic capture and controlled management — not street-based programs.

Addressing Concerns About ImplementationShelter Capacity Challenges

Critics argue that Delhi lacks sufficient shelter capacity for one million dogs. However, the Supreme Court's phased approach begins with 5,000 dogs from high-risk areas, allowing infrastructure to scale progressively. The MCD has already identified 20 sterilization centers that can be expanded into shelters.

Humane Treatment Standards

The court's order mandates adequate staffing, medical care, and CCTV surveillance to ensure proper animal welfare. This represents a more humane approach than leaving dogs on streets where they face starvation, disease, traffic accidents, and periodic culling attempts.

Financial Considerations

While shelter construction requires significant investment, the economic burden of rabies treatment far exceeds prevention costs. Asia alone spends an estimated $563 million annually on rabies-related expenses. The Netherlands' investment in stray elimination has eliminated ongoing rabies costs entirely.

The Moral Imperative: Children's Safety

The Supreme Court emphasized that "infants and young children should not at any cost fall prey to stray dogs". Recent incidents underscore this urgency:

A six-year-old girl's rabies death prompted the court's suo motu intervention.
Children constitute 40% of dog bite victims in endemic areas.
An 18-month-old girl was recently mauled to death in Delhi's Tughlak Lane.

Justice Pardiwala asked pointedly: "Will animal rights activists be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies?" This question highlights the fundamental ethical issue — the rights of vulnerable humans to safe public spaces.

Supporting Effective Implementation

The success of this initiative requires:

Community Cooperation

Reporting stray sightings through the mandated helpline
Supporting shelter construction in local communities
Avoiding obstruction of capture operations as warned by the court

Government Accountability

Transparent progress reporting on shelter construction and capacity
Adequate funding allocation for infrastructure and staffing
Professional training for capture and care personnel

Long-term Sustainability

Strict enforcement of pet registration and sterilization requirements
Penalties for abandonment of owned dogs that contribute to stray populations.
Public education on responsible pet ownership

Conclusion

The Supreme Court's order represents evidence-based policymaking that prioritizes both human safety and animal welfare. Countries worldwide have demonstrated that systematic capture and sheltering — not street-based programs — effectively eliminate stray populations while maintaining humane treatment standards.

Delhi-NCR residents deserve streets where children can play safely, where elderly citizens can walk without fear, and where delivery workers can perform their duties without risk of attack. The romanticization of street feeding cannot justify the continued suffering of bite victims and their families.

True compassion demands safe, monitored shelters with professional veterinary care — not abandoning animals to face the harsh realities of street survival. The court's 6-8 week timeline reflects the urgency of this public health crisis.

Every day of delay means more preventable injuries, more families devastated by rabies, and more animals suffering on the streets. The time for half-measures and failed policies has ended. Delhi-NCR must implement this order fully and immediately to protect both its human and animal residents.

Why We Support This Order

Public Safety First: Rabies is almost 100% fatal. Stray dog bites are a leading cause.
Failed Old System: The “catch-sterilize-release” policy has left dangerous dogs roaming freely despite sterilization.
Humane, Not Cruel: The order calls for safe shelters, vaccination, and long-term care — not killing.
Global Success Stories: Countries like Singapore and Japan have nearly eliminated stray attacks through similar measures.

We reject the irresponsible voices that romanticize feeding dogs on streets while ignoring the pain and trauma of bite victims.
True compassion means safe, healthy environments for animals and safe streets for people.

We, the undersigned, urge the authorities to:

Fully implement the Supreme Court’s order within the given 6–8 week period.
Build adequate, humane shelters with proper food, medical care, and CCTV monitoring.
Enforce penalties against anyone obstructing the process or re-releasing aggressive dogs into public spaces.

Enough is enough. Delhi-NCR cannot afford more victims of preventable attacks.
Let’s protect our people, protect our animals, and take our public spaces back.

Sign this petition today and stand for safer streets.

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Safe Streets for People. Safe Shelters for Dogs. Bite-Free Delhi-NCR Starts Now.

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