Supreme Court Bars Street-Feeding of Stray Dogs, Mandates Dedicated Feeding Zones
The Supreme Court has issued new national guidelines for managing stray dogs, ordering a prohibition on feeding them on streets and in public places. Instead, municipal authorities must create dedicated feeding spaces in each ward. The court clarified that sterilised and immunised dogs can be released back into their original areas, but aggressive or rabid dogs must be kept in shelters. The Bench has also transferred all stray dog-related cases from various high courts to itself to formulate a final national policy.
Unpacked:
The Supreme Court acted in response to a surge in dog bite cases and rising public concern, especially in urban areas like Delhi-NCR, where human-dog conflicts and rabies fears have escalated. Over 3.7 million dog bites were reported across India in 2024, making stray dog management a pressing public health and safety issue.
India reportedly had about 15 million stray dogs according to the 2019 livestock census, but these figures are considered outdated and possibly inaccurate. Many experts question these estimates due to inconsistencies and a lack of recent, comprehensive surveys, making planning and policy implementation challenging.
The main approach is the Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR) program, which aims to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs before releasing them back to their original locations. This method is intended to control the population, prevent rabies, and reduce human-dog conflicts while balancing animal welfare concerns.
Supporters of the ban argue it will reduce aggressive dog behavior and prevent congregation in public areas, improving safety. Opponents say banning street feeding could harm the dogs, increase their hunger-driven aggression, and undermine animal welfare, suggesting managed, designated feeding is a more humane alternative.