On our streets live millions of community dogs, some born here, some abandoned by people they once trusted. They survive on scraps, sleep on cold pavements, and yet, for many, the they are familiar friends who wag their tails when we pass.

They guard their lanes, keep away unvaccinated intruders, and when sterilised and vaccinated, they coexist peacefully with people. They are not pests to be “removed.” They are sentient beings protected under India’s Constitution, our laws, and basic human decency.

Yet, a recent verdict now risks uprooting them en masse, tearing them from their territories, often condemning them to overcrowded shelters or worse. This is not mercy. It is not science. And it is not lawful.

Why removal is wrong according to PAWS:

Science says culling doesn’t work: The World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have confirmed for decades that killing or relocating street dogs does not control population or rabies. In fact, it creates a vacuum effect, new, often unvaccinated dogs move in, increasing the risk of bites and disease.

India’s own law protects them: The Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, allow only one method - Catch–Neuter–Vaccinate–Return (CNVR) — where dogs are sterilised, vaccinated, and returned to the same place. This is both humane and legally binding.

It saves lives, human and canine: In 2024, India recorded only 54 suspected human rabies deaths — proof that vaccination works. Mass removal will undo these gains.

It’s economically smarter: Humane CNVR costs just ~₹3,000 per dog (one-time), compared to ₹15,000 crore+ for mass removal and shelters, resources that could strengthen health care, education, and rabies prevention.

It protects ecological balance: Sterilised community dogs deter unvaccinated newcomers and help keep rodent populations in check.

The moral imperative

Article 51A(g) of our Constitution calls on every citizen to show compassion to all living creatures.
The Supreme Court itself (AWBI vs. People for Elimination of Stray Troubles, WP 691/2009) upheld humane ABC programs as the right and lawful way forward.

These dogs ask for so little- a bit of space, a scrap of food, and the right to live without fear. In return, they offer loyalty, protection, and a living reminder of what mercy looks like.We, the undersigned, urge the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India to:

1. Modify the current verdict to allow non-aggressive, sterilised, vaccinated community dogs to remain in their territories under Resident Welfare Association (RWA) care and monitoring.

2. Direct urgent nationwide sterilisation and vaccination drives in all high-risk areas.

3. Ensure 24/7 anti-rabies treatment facilities in every government hospital.

4. Mandate nationwide public education on bite prevention, responsible pet ownership, and safe human-animal coexistence.

5. Enforce anti-abandonment laws and regulate breeding to stop the cycle of suffering at its root.

This is not just about dogs.
It’s about protecting people from rabies and bites.
It’s about honouring our Constitution and our humanity.
It’s about proving that India chooses compassion backed by science- not cruelty disguised as safety.

Sign now for the voiceless who trust us, for the safety of our streets, and for an India where mercy and reason walk together. Paws♡