SC on Stray Dogs: It is August 22, 2025, in New Delhi. The Supreme Court of India has changed its order from August 11 about stray dogs in Delhi NCR to focus on both public safety and humane care. The new order says that stray dogs must be returned to the places where they were caught after being spayed or neutered and given a shot.
This change was made because animal care groups, activists, and local governments are worried about the well-being of stray dogs. At the same time, it’s important to keep people safe from possible health risks.
Important parts of the new order
The updated rules from the Supreme Court make a number of important things clear:
- Stray dogs that are caught and taken to be spayed or neutered or vaccinated must be returned back to where they came from.
- There are some exceptions for dogs that have rabies or act aggressively; these dogs may be handled differently to protect the public.
- The ruling backs up the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2001, which say that sterilization, immunization, and controlled management are more important than killing dogs.
The court made it clear that spaying and neutering wild dogs is necessary to keep the population from growing and to stop the spread of diseases like rabies in cities.
Keeping people safe and animals happy at the same time
The Supreme Court’s decision shows how difficult it is to protect both people’s rights and the rights of animals. There are a lot of stray dogs in Delhi NCR, and there have been many worries about dog bites and rabies attacks in some areas.
Animal rights groups praised the move, saying it ensures animals are treated humanely and addresses safety concerns. A PETA India spokesperson said, “Returning spayed or neutered dogs to their original areas reduces territorial conflicts and helps maintain ecological balance.”
Setting up and keeping an eye on
The court has told city governments and other local groups to strictly follow the new rules. To ensure obedience, proper records must be kept of each dog’s spaying or neutering, vaccinations, and health.
The government has also been asked to keep a close eye on animals that are sick or aggressive to make sure there are no public health risks. As needed, veterinary support teams will be sent to treat and watch the animals.
