In a significant move, India's Supreme Court has mandated that Delhi and its suburbs relocate all stray dogs to shelters within eight weeks. This decision follows rising concerns about the number of dog bites and the associated risk of rabies in the capital. With the stray dog population in Delhi estimated at around one million, the court's urgency reflects a serious public health concern.
The ruling surfaced amid alarming statistics from the World Health Organization, which highlights that India is responsible for 36% of global rabies deaths. Particularly vulnerable groups, such as infants and children, are at heightened risk, prompting the court to stress the importance of public safety.
To facilitate this massive operation, the court ordered the creation of multiple shelters across the region, each housing at least 5,000 dogs. These facilities are expected to include vaccination and sterilization resources, surveillance, and a newly devised helpline for reporting incidents related to dog bites.
Despite the court’s directive, animal welfare advocates have raised objections about the feasibility of this ambitious plan. Leaders in animal rights highlight that India lacks sufficient infrastructure to accommodate the sheer volume of stray dogs needing rehabilitation. They argue that rather than hastily relocating dogs, existing programs for vaccination and sterilization must be strengthened to reduce the dog population sustainably.
The government has documented millions of dog bite incidents, with 3.7 million reported cases in 2024. However, the exact impact of rabies remains ambiguous, with estimates suggesting 18,000 to 20,000 deaths per year due to the disease, contrasting with just 54 reported rabies fatalities in official records for 2024. Activists emphasize the need for enhanced awareness and preventive measures to tackle this critical issue effectively.
