New Delhi: In response to the growing population of stray dogs in public spaces and the associated risks, the Supreme Court of India has issued a significant ruling mandating the relocation of all stray dogs to designated shelters. This move attempts to strike a balance between public safety and animal welfare.
According to the judicial order, stray dogs are to be removed from railway stations, bus stands, and other public areas across the country and housed in purpose-built facilities. The decision follows numerous complaints citing dog attacks and the difficulties caused by their omnipresence in crowded public spots.
Statistics highlight the enormity of this issue. India has a massive stray dog population, estimated to be around 52.5 million stray dogs nationwide. Out of this enormous figure, only 800,000 are currently housed in various shelters. Furthermore, the Indian capital, New Delhi, alone is home to over 1 million stray dogs.
The Supreme Court’s directive places a substantial logistical burden on local governments and municipal authorities to provide adequate infrastructure and resources for the safe transfer and long-term care of such a vast number of animals.
