Citizens in Jaipur organized a powerful demonstration against the Supreme Court's November 7 order calling for the removal of community dogs from neighborhoods across India. The protest, titled "Protest for Justice: No Dogs, No Vote," brought together diverse groups including animal welfare organizations, educators, children, social media influencers, and political representatives.
United Stand for Community Dogs
The peaceful gathering witnessed participants holding placards and chanting slogans while many brought their community dogs to emphasize the right to coexist. Protesters made it clear that they would not permit forced removal or relocation of community dogs and demanded that any action must strictly follow Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) guidelines and previous Supreme Court rulings.
Children and students delivered emotional messages addressed to the Chief Justice of India, expressing their heartbreak and urging the court to consider the voices of those who cannot speak for themselves. Educators, principals, and activists emphasized that justice cannot be selective and compassion should not be conditional.
Letters to the Court and Strong Criticisms
A significant moment during the evening was the "Letters to the Court" activity, where citizens wrote appeals requesting humane governance and withdrawal of the controversial order. Mariam Abuhaideri, co-founder of an animal welfare community, voiced strong concerns during the gathering.
"If the Supreme Court did not want to hear us, why did they take such a huge amount of money from NGOs already struggling to survive?" Abuhaideri questioned. "We paid, we complied, we waited — but we were never heard. Never before has a judgment been passed without hearing all sides."
She highlighted the practical challenges, asking "Where will they take these dogs? There are no shelters, no budgets, no plans" and advocated for investing in education, awareness, and sterilization as the real solution instead of creating chaos and cruelty.
Demand for Sustainable Solutions
Participants emphasized that community dogs are territorial animals that coexist peacefully with residents and form an integral part of the shared environment. Actor and model Shivangi Singh, one of the co-organizers, expressed strong condemnation of the order.
"As an animal activist, it is my responsibility to speak for the voiceless. Catching and displacing dogs is not a solution — it only causes suffering," Singh stated. "We urge authorities to prioritize sterilization drives, vaccination programmes and community awareness. Compassion, not cruelty, must guide policy."
Rakesh Tyagi, trustee at Help in Suffering, stressed the importance of strengthening Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes. "Many NGOs are already working tirelessly on sterilization, vaccination and public awareness," Tyagi explained, adding that "Without collaboration with animal welfare organizations, simply picking up dogs will only create more suffering and chaos."
The protest concluded on a poignant note with participants collectively reading the Preamble of the Indian Constitution, followed by the singing of the National Anthem, symbolizing their commitment to constitutional values of justice and compassion.
