Supreme Court Bans Stray Dogs from these areas, Protesters Detained

The Supreme court on Monday ordered total removal of Stray dogs from the Delhi-NCR Region citing “Public Safety” after lakhs of Dog attacks were reported. These dogs are to be looked after in the shelter houses but there are no official records on Number of street dogs and Shelters. 

Supreme Court Bans Stray Dogs 

• On Monday, the Supreme Court asked the Delhi Government to catch all the stray dogs and place them in a shelter house. The order resulted after the Suo motu case about the recent Dog attacks and the spread of rabies. 
• The Apex body of the country stated that the ruling comes after the Rapid Surge in the Number of Dog attacks on Children and common people. The prioritization has been laid over Public health and safety to enable people to walk on the streets without fearing dog bites. 
• Victims of such incidents celebrate while Animal Activists and Dog lovers Sit on protests demanding stoppage to such an “Illogical” Order and proper measures. 
• Earlier to tackle the dog population authorities and people in India resorted to cruel means such as electrocution, shooting, Burying pups alive, shooting etc. 
• In 1992, a method was implemented which sterilized dogs under the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules.This rule was later replaced in 2023 with Animal Birth Control(ABC) Rules. 

Delhi NCR authorities ordered to create shelters Within 8 weeks 

• The Supreme court has strictly ordered that within 8 weeks stray dogs are to be removed from the streets. 
• Anybody who opposes the rule or is found to disobey, shall face legal troubles. 
• The shelters must be spacious enough to house 5,000 dogs, to be looked after through CCTV Surveillance, and must be sterilized and immunised in the shelter. 
• These dogs are never to be released and shall be their permanent residence. If not followed properly, the legal trouble lingers. 
• In the view of rapid rabies cases, a new helpline will be created through which all the cases will be reported and action will be taken within 4 hours. 

As per certain reports there are over 60 million stray dogs in India but the data on number of dog shelters are unavailable. According to activists, the existing dog shelters are filthy, unhygienic with inadequate food supplies and almost no healthcare aid. PETA has called this ruling “Illogical” and also illegal according to ABC Rules. Indian celebrities have called out the supreme court expressing their sentiments on the issue through social media handles.