Activists Mobilize to Protect India's Street Dogs from Controversial Court Order

In 2025, the Supreme Court of India issued an order to remove street dogs from public spaces such as educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, and bus stands across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad. This directive was intended to protect children, the visually impaired, the elderly, and the homeless from potential dog bites and the risk of rabies.

However, animal welfare activists strongly opposed the court's order, arguing that such unscientific removal of street dogs has proven ineffective in the past. They pointed to the Bombay Dog Riots of 1832, where the Parsi community successfully protested the British East India Company's attempts to kill street dogs in Bombay.

Activists emphasized that street dogs are territorial, and removing them from an area only leads to new, unknown dogs occupying the vacuum, which can create more chaos and potential conflicts. They advocated for a more scientific and compassionate approach, focusing on mass vaccination and sterilization programs to control the dog population without resorting to cruelty.

The activists also highlighted the important role of community caretakers and feeders, who have earned the trust of the street dogs and can assist in their sterilization and vaccination. They argued that allowing dogs to remain in the neighborhoods they are familiar with makes it easier for organizations to carry out these welfare measures.