Delhi Court Orders Urgent Action to Remove Stray Dogs Amid Rising Rabies Risk

Delhi's estimated one million stray dogs face an eight-week deadline imposed by the court due to alarming rates of dog bites and rabies, calling for substantial shelter capacity and improved public safety measures.

In a decisive ruling, India's Supreme Court has ordered the government to relocate all stray dogs from the streets of Delhi and its surrounding areas into animal shelters within an eight-week timeframe. This directive comes in response to escalating concerns regarding dog bites and the associated risk of rabies, which the court highlighted as a significant threat to public safety, especially for infants and young children.

With an estimated stray dog population of one million in Delhi, as well as increasing numbers in suburban regions such as Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, the Court's ruling weighs heavily on local authorities to act swiftly. The World Health Organization reports that India experiences 36% of all rabies deaths globally, where rabies is responsible for an alarming estimated 18,000 to 20,000 fatalities each year.

During the court session, the justices emphasized that the moving message of safety must resonate throughout the community, allowing families the freedom to walk unimpeded by fear of canine attacks. The ruling stipulates that multiple shelters must be established across the region, with each shelter designed to accommodate at least 5,000 dogs, offering sterilization and vaccination facilities alongside CCTV surveillance for oversight.

Significantly, the court ordered that sterilized dogs should not be returned to public spaces, deviating from previous regulations which allowed for returned captured dogs. A new helpline is also expected to be launched within a week, intended for reporting dog bite incidents and rabies cases.

However, the directive has ignited backlash from animal welfare organizations, which argue that the court's timeline is unrealistic given the country's existing infrastructure shortcomings. Nilesh Bhanage, founder of the advocacy group PAWS, voiced his concerns, stating that most cities lack the capacity to accommodate even 1% of needed shelter space for stray dogs. Advocates emphasize the need for better enforcement of existing regulations for dog population control, including enhanced vaccination and sterilization services along with better waste management practices.

Data from the Indian government reveals 3.7 million reported cases of dog bites in 2024, and while the official count of rabies-related deaths numbered 54 in the same year, activists suspect this figure does not accurately reflect the true scale of the issue. As the court's mandate takes effect, the balance between public safety and animal welfare remains a contentious debate.