Overview
The Supreme Court on November 7, 2025, directed States and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from public places and shift them to “designated shelters” after sterilisation and vaccination. This order aims to address the increasing number of dog attacks across the country. However, the directive has sparked criticism from animal welfare advocates who argue it undermines humane approaches like the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and vaccination programmes.
Key Developments
Challenges in Implementation
- Shelter Facilities: Implementing the directive has proven challenging in cities like Vijayawada, which lacks adequate shelter facilities for dogs.
- Animal Welfare Concerns: Relocating street dogs to shelters is seen as not a sustainable solution by animal welfare advocates.
Vijayawada's Response
- Budget Allocation: The Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) allocated ₹5.5 crore in the ₹1,454.58 crore budget for 2025–26 to control the animal menace, more than double last year’s ₹2 crore allocation.
- Shelter Conditions: Concerns exist regarding the poor maintenance at the Ajith Singh Nagar shelter, leading to health issues for the dogs.
- Sterilisation Drives: Allegations of disorganised sterilisation drives and failure to release dogs back into their original localities after surgery have been raised.
Animal Welfare Board of India's Guidelines
The Animal Welfare Board of India’s (AWBI) Revised ABC Module, issued in February 2025, stresses that dog population management and rabies prevention depend on the effective implementation of the ABC Rules, 2023. The module warns that creating a territorial vacuum can lead to more conflicts and bite incidents.
VMC's Data and Plans
- Dog Population: Vijayawada has about 40,000 street dogs and 320 kennels.
- Neutering and Vaccination: Around 14,000 dogs have been neutered and vaccinated.
- Future Plans: VMC plans to build more kennels, requiring additional funding.
Compliance with Supreme Court's Order
- Notices to Establishments: The VMC has decided to issue notices to educational institutions, railway and bus stations, hospitals, and other public establishments to install boundary fencing and appoint nodal officers.
- Designated Feeding Zones: The corporation has identified 59 designated feeding zones across the city’s three circles to minimise human-animal conflict.
Expert Opinions
Pisupati Ravi Keerthi, founder of Sanghamitra Animal Foundation, criticised the Supreme Court’s order, arguing that it fails to address the root cause and highlighted the need for sufficient funds for neutering drives.
Recommendations
A balanced approach is needed, including public awareness campaigns to educate people on how to deal with street dogs. Ensuring that dogs are vaccinated and sterilised is a collective duty.
Exam Relevance
This issue is relevant to GS2 (Government Policies & Social Justice) and GS3 (Environment Conservation). It highlights the complexities of implementing court directives and the importance of humane and sustainable solutions for managing human-animal conflict.