New Delhi: Several animal welfare groups and activists expressed mixed reactions to the Supreme Court's latest directions to deal with stray dogs. Some welcomed the development as a long-overdue push for scientific implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) framework, while others voiced concern over provisions that could lead to arbitrary removal or confinement of community dogs.
Positive Reactions from Animal Welfare Advocates
Sanjay Mohapatra, founder of House of Stray Animals, described the directions as historic and progressive for both public safety and animal welfare. He stated that the Supreme Court has recognized that the only scientific and sustainable solution to issues relating to community dogs is effective implementation of the ABC Rules, 2023, through sterilization, anti-rabies vaccination, responsible feeding, and proper municipal infrastructure. Mohapatra added that the court reaffirmed that sterilization and vaccination, not indiscriminate culling or cruelty, remain central to the policy for managing stray dogs. The message from the court is clear, he said, that the solution lies in science, compassion, transparency, and proper implementation of the law.
Ambika Shukla, trustee of People For Animals (PFA), also welcomed the court's emphasis on the accountability of civic agencies and governments. She noted that this strongly reaffirms the ABC Rules and places responsibility squarely on authorities that have failed to implement sterilization and vaccination programs effectively for years.
Another animal volunteer expressed hope that this development would finally push authorities to seriously implement long-pending sterilization and vaccination programs for stray dogs. For years, the problem kept compounding because civic bodies failed to carry out proper implementation of the rules on the ground. If the latest development leads to structured sterilization, vaccination, and monitoring, it will help both people and animals in the long run, the activist said.
Concerns Raised by Other Animal Rights Groups
However, sections of the animal welfare community raised concerns over certain provisions, particularly those relating to the removal of stray dogs from public spaces and their long-term sheltering. Delhi-based activist Kunal Gupta criticized the directions as imbalanced regarding principles of social justice and said they do not adequately address the issue of cruelty faced by community animals. He questioned why officials responsible for failures in sterilization and vaccination drives are not being held accountable, especially given that substantial monetary allocations have been made for animal welfare schemes. Gupta alleged that many government veterinary facilities lack anti-rabies vaccines and adequate infrastructure.
Another animal rights activist was similarly critical, stating that this may result in unnecessary confinement of community dogs. Public safety is important, but the solution cannot be mass removal of dogs from their territories. Without proper infrastructure, shelters may become overcrowded. Authorities must ensure that the court directions are not misused against healthy community animals, the activist said.
PETA India's Statement
PETA India said that community dogs have been demonized for trying to survive in difficult conditions due to decades of human inaction. The court correctly put the spotlight on the persistent failure at the local government level to implement the rules over the last 25 years. The answer cannot involve rounding up dogs and forcing them into a life sentence simply for being born, or branding them aggressive and culling them, it stated.
