Delhi's Urgent Task: Court Orders Removal of Stray Dogs Amid Rabies Concerns

In response to rising rabies-related risks from dog bites, India's Supreme Court has ordered immediate measures to relocate strays in Delhi and its suburbs.

Delhi's Supreme Court has issued a significant order mandating local authorities to relocate all stray dogs from streets to animal shelters within the next eight weeks. With an estimated stray dog population of around one million in Delhi alone, the court raised alarms over the increasing number of dog bites leading to rabies, emphasizing the need for urgent action to protect vulnerable populations, especially children.

The ruling comes after alarming statistics from the World Health Organization indicating that India is responsible for 36% of global rabies-related fatalities. The court highlighted its intent to reassure citizens, especially young ones, that they can move without the fear of being bitten by stray dogs.

As part of its directive, the court has ordered the establishment of multiple shelters throughout Delhi and its suburban areas, each designed to accommodate at least 5,000 dogs. Moreover, these facilities are to include vaccination and sterilization services along with surveillance measures such as CCTV cameras. A drastic shift in policy was also proposed, as sterilized dogs will not be permitted to return to public spaces, countering existing regulations that require their return to capture sites.

Additionally, a helpline is to be established within the week for reporting dog bites and rabies incidents. However, animal welfare activists have raised serious concerns regarding the practicality of the court's timetable. They argue that many cities in India currently lack the infrastructure to support such an initiative, with only a fraction of the necessary shelter capacity in place.

Nilesh Bhanage, the founder of animal rights organization PAWS, criticized the ruling, urging a focus on improving existing measures for controlling dog populations and rabies transmission, such as vaccination, sterilization, and effective waste management systems.

Government statistics reveal that the year 2024 documented 3.7 million dog bites across India, highlighting the scale of this public health issue. While the official rabies death toll for 2024 was reported at 54, the true extent may be significantly underrepresented, as many rabies fatalities remain unreported.

This court ruling marks a crucial point in the ongoing struggle between public health concerns and animal welfare in India, as officials and activists converge on finding a viable solution to manage the stray dog crisis.