Stray dogs issue: Citizens, experts call for stay on mass removal orders

Dog lovers, experts and activists gathered at Jantar Mantar in Delhi to protest against the Supreme Court’s recent order directing the removal of street dogs from public spaces, calling for an evidence-based, lawful and humane policy on stray dogs.

Ahead of the Supreme Court’s next hearing on the matter scheduled for January 7, the protesters, who assembled under the banner “Do or Die”, demanded an immediate stay on what they described as mass removal and confinement orders of community dogs.

During the demonstration, participants held placards reading “Pollution hatao, pashu nahi”, “Jeev nahi toh jeevan nahi”, and “Stop the massacre, every life matters”.

According to a statement issued by the organisers, similar demonstrations were held simultaneously in more than 50 cities across the country, including Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Trivandrum.

On November 7, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered the removal of all stray dogs from railway stations, schools, hospitals, bus stops and other public areas, directing that they be relocated to “designated shelters” after due sterilisation and vaccination in accordance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules.

In their statement, the protesters said that public-health experts, veterinarians and scientists have raised concerns over what they termed an unscientific approach to mass removal and confinement of stray dogs. Such measures, they said, would weaken rabies-control efforts, destabilise urban ecosystems, and disproportionately affect low-income and underserved communities.

The mobilisation follows weeks of what the organisers described as misinformation and alarmist media reporting, which they said influenced public narrative and policy responses before verified facts were examined.

“A media report that led to the current suo motu proceedings incorrectly attributed a child’s tragic death to rabies, a claim later contradicted by official records. Despite the correction, the initial misinformation became the emotional and political foundation for sweeping directions affecting millions of animals and people,” the statement said.

Experts cited in the statement said that Animal Birth Control with Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ABC-ARV/CNVR) has never been implemented at the scale required to achieve epidemiological impact in most states. Affidavits submitted by state governments, they said, show coverage levels far below global benchmarks.

Describing this situation as a “failure of ABC” is misleading, the experts said, adding that what has failed is implementation rather than the policy or the science behind it.

Meanwhile, more than 2,000 citizens from across India, including prominent figures such as Mira Nair, Swara Bhaskar, Mark Tully and Dadi Padamjee, have signed an open letter along with doctors, public-health experts, veterinarians, scientists, animal-behaviour specialists, environmentalists, journalists and caregivers, raising concerns over the proposed mega-shelter model.

The signatories warned of ecological disruptions, serious public-health risks and a financial burden running into thousands of crores, stating that there is no evidence to suggest that the proposed policy would improve public safety.

The demonstration at Jantar Mantar saw participation from speakers from public health, animal welfare and civil society, including Ambika Shukla, Gauri Maulekhi, Manavi Rai, Gauri Puri, Yogita Bhayana and Maha Singh Sharma.

Local feeders, resident welfare association presidents and animal lovers attended in large numbers. Musicians Mohit Chauhan and Rahul Ram also performed at the protest in solidarity.

“It is not a protest against public safety, but a call to protect it through science, accountability, and compassion,” a protester said.

The protesters reiterated their demand for an immediate halt to the mass removal and confinement of community dogs and called for “meaningful hearings before the Supreme Court with veterinarians, epidemiologists, public-health experts, ecologists and animal-behaviour scientists”.

They also sought a return to evidence-based governance with adequate funding, monitoring and proper implementation of the ABC-ARV programme, as mandated by law.

(With inputs from PTI)