Supreme Court revises ruling on stray dogs, scraps shelter relocation

Anabelle Colaco
25 Aug 2025, 22:39 GMT+10

India’s Supreme Court on August 22 amended an earlier order on stray dogs, ruling that animals picked up in Delhi and surrounding suburbs should be released back into the same area after sterilisation and vaccination, rather than moved permanently to shelters
The case reached the top court after animal welfare groups challenged its previous directive requiring authorities to relocate strays to shelters, a move that came in response to rising rabies cases
That earlier decision drew sharp criticism from activists and veterinarians, who argued that India lacks the infrastructure and resources to house and treat such large numbers of dogs

NEW DELHI, India: India's Supreme Court has amended an earlier order on stray dogs, ruling that animals picked up in Delhi and surrounding suburbs should be released back into the same area after sterilisation and vaccination, rather than moved permanently to shelters.

The case reached the top court after animal welfare groups challenged its previous directive requiring authorities to relocate strays to shelters, a move that came in response to rising rabies cases, particularly among children.

That earlier decision drew sharp criticism from activists and veterinarians, who argued that India lacks the infrastructure and resources to house and treat such large numbers of dogs. Concerns were also raised about the welfare of animals placed in overcrowded or underfunded shelters.

Animal lovers staged protests across the capital following the initial order, warning that mass relocation could both harm the dogs and worsen the problem by breaking established community control of packs.

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