The Supreme Court, in In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price” (2025 INSC 1018, decided on 22 August 2025), took suo motu cognisance of the increasing instances of fatal stray dog attacks, most notably the recent death of a six-year-old child in Delhi. In its earlier order dated 11 August 2025, the Court had directed immediate removal of stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR, sterilisation and vaccination in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (“ABC Rules”), and their permanent confinement in shelters without release. Following interventions by animal welfare organisations and individuals, the Court has now revisited those directions and issued a modified framework that extends its applicability to the entire nation and that also seeks to strike a balance between public safety and animal welfare. The Court has therefore laid down the following Do’s and Don’ts to be carried out for the effective stray dog management.
Do's
- Capture stray dogs and ensure sterilisation, deworming, and vaccination strictly in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (ABC Rules).
- Release dogs back into the same locality after treatment, except in cases of rabid or aggressive dogs.
- House rabid, suspected rabid, and aggressive dogs in separate shelters/pounds, ensuring they do not return to the streets.
- Establish designated feeding zones in every municipal ward for safe and regulated feeding of stray dogs.
- Set up a dedicated helpline in each municipality to enable citizens to report illegal feeding or obstruction of official duties.
- Permit adoption of stray dogs through municipal authorities for animal lovers, ensuring adopted dogs do not return to public spaces.
- Require State Secretaries of Animal Husbandry and local bodies to file compliance reports with the Court.
- Ensure that similar pending matters in High Courts are transferred to the Supreme Court for uniform adjudication.
Don’ts
- Permanent confinement in shelters is reserved strictly for rabid and aggressive stray dogs.
- Feeding belongs in designated zones alone; streets and public spaces are off-limits.
- Municipal and authorised officials are to carry out their duties unhindered, with prosecution inevitable for any interference.