With Over One Million Stray Dogs, City Takes Drastic Action: "Round Them Up Within Eight Weeks"

Estimated at One Million Strays
WHO: "36% of Rabies Deaths Occur in India"
Animal Groups: "Shelter Capacity Is Less Than 1%"

An Indian court has ordered the complete removal of stray dogs from New Delhi and the surrounding metropolitan area within eight weeks. This is an extremely strict measure that also bans the release of neutered dogs, and if implemented as planned, it is expected that up to one million dogs will disappear from the streets.

An Indian court has ordered the complete collection of stray dogs within 8 weeks. Unrelated photo. Pexels

According to a report by the BBC on August 11 (local time), the Supreme Court of India has issued an order to completely remove all stray dogs from the streets of New Delhi and neighboring regions and transfer them to shelters. The court stated, "Dog bite incidents that can lead to rabies are a serious problem," and instructed that the operation be completed within eight weeks.

Estimated at One Million... WHO: "36% of Rabies Deaths Occur in India"

It is estimated that there are about one million stray dogs in New Delhi. The number of stray dogs is also rapidly increasing in nearby cities such as Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurgaon. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India accounts for 36% of global rabies deaths.

The court ordered the rapid establishment of multiple shelters across New Delhi and the surrounding areas, each capable of housing at least 5,000 dogs. Each facility must be equipped with equipment for neutering, vaccination, and CCTV. The court also ruled that, contrary to current regulations, even neutered dogs must not be released into public spaces. In addition, a dedicated hotline for reporting dog bites and rabies cases must be set up within one week. These instructions appear to be a response to reports of increasing dog bite incidents in New Delhi and other major cities.

Animal Groups: "Shelter Capacity Is Less Than 1%"

Photo of a stray dog unrelated to the article. Pixabay

However, animal protection groups are opposing the court's order. Nilesh Banage, founder of the animal rights group PAWS, pointed out, "Most cities have less than 1% of the shelter capacity needed," and added, "The real solution is to strengthen the effectiveness of existing measures such as vaccination, neutering, and waste management."

According to Indian government statistics, there were 3.7 million reported cases of dog bites in 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that between 18,000 and 20,000 people die from rabies in India each year, but Indian government figures for last year recorded only 54 deaths. Experts believe that the actual damage is much greater.