Recent attacks on people feeding street dogs highlight tensions in India's urban areas. The Supreme Court has issued conflicting directives on managing stray dogs, clashing with established animal welfare rules. Experts advocate for evidence-based approaches like sterilization over removal.
In recent weeks, incidents of violence against individuals caring for street dogs have underscored a heated debate on animal management in India. In Raipur, a man was beaten to death while feeding street dogs. In Gwalior, an advocate faced assault and difficulties in filing a police report. In Kolkata, senior citizen Gautam Pramanik was hospitalized in intensive care after a beating for similar reasons.
This violence occurs amid legal uncertainties. In August 2025, the Supreme Court ordered municipal authorities in Delhi-NCR to remove all street dogs and place them in shelters. This directive conflicted with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which require humane capture, sterilization, rabies vaccination, and release back to original areas, as per the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. The order was later reversed and partially restored. During January 2026 hearings, a three-judge bench suggested feeding dogs only on private premises and holding states liable for compensation in cases of attacks due to poor management.
Critics argue these measures are impractical, citing the 'vacuum effect' where removed populations are quickly replaced by others, as seen in global studies and local experiences like Chennai. Successful implementations of ABC programs in cities such as Lucknow and Dehradun have led to population declines. Recommendations include achieving 70 percent sterilization rates, promoting adoption of Indian-breed dogs, and providing legal protections for caregivers who support under-resourced civic systems.
The opinion piece, written by a trustee of People for Animals, emphasizes that street dogs form part of South Asia's urban ecology and calls for policy guided by evidence rather than panic to prevent rabies and reduce bites humanely.