Home / Health / India Ordered to Relocate Stray Dogs Nationwide Amid Public Health Crisis
India Ordered to Relocate Stray Dogs Nationwide Amid Public Health Crisis
14 Nov
Summary
- Supreme Court orders removal of stray dogs from public places
- Stray dogs to be relocated to designated shelters after sterilization and vaccination
- India has over 100 million stray cats and dogs, leading to 3.7 million dog bite cases in 2024
On November 7, 2025, the Supreme Court of India issued a directive to remove stray dogs from public places across the country and relocate them to designated shelters, after ensuring they are sterilized and vaccinated in accordance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023.
This ruling comes as India grapples with a severe stray animal crisis, with an estimated 100.09 million cats and dogs, including 85.61 million dogs and 14.48 million cats. The majority of this population, around 71% of dogs and 61% of cats, are homeless, with 52.5 million dogs and 8 million cats roaming as strays. The Union Health Ministry recorded 3.7 million dog bite cases in 2024 alone, and 99% of rabies deaths in India are caused by dog bites.
The Supreme Court's order aims to address this public health emergency, mandating that the relocation of stray dogs be "implemented uniformly across India" within eight weeks. The court specified that the animals "shall not be released back to the same location from which they were picked up," a departure from the current "Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return" (CNVR) policy.
