Protect India's Street Dogs—Choose Compassion Over Cruelty.
The Issue
Voices for the Voiceless
India’s streets are home to an estimated 62 million stray dogs, many of whom depend on the kindness of local communities for survival. These animals are not just “strays” — they are sentient beings who have coexisted with us for centuries, acting as companions, protectors, and an inseparable part of our urban and rural landscapes.
On August 11, 2025, India’s Supreme Court ordered authorities across Delhi-NCR to remove stray dogs from the streets and relocate them to shelters within eight weeks, including sterilised and vaccinated dogs. The court also banned their return to the streets and mandated shelter facilities with CCTV, medical care, and helplines, warning that obstruction could lead to contempt proceedings.
India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001 already recognize the rights of street dogs to live in their territories without harassment. This order undermines decades of progress made by animal welfare organizations, volunteers, and compassionate citizens. This directive now contradicts the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of 2023, which treat stray dogs as “community animals” and mandate a humane model of sterilise–vaccinate–release into their original habitats. Critics argue that the new policy ignores established law and scientific method. Experts warn that Delhi lacks the necessary infrastructure to support such large-scale sheltering. Facilities are already at capacity, and the cost of mass relocation has been described as “impractical” and financially unsustainable.
The ruling has sparked protests across cities—for instance, over 250 activists in Mumbai held a demonstration urging the adoption of sterilization and vaccination and not removal as the long-term humane solution. In Ahmedabad, dog lovers announced peaceful protests, emphasizing that caring for strays has always been a community effort. Editorials have criticized the court’s reliance on outdated bite data and anecdotes, terming the decision “arbitrary, unconstitutional, and contradictory” to prior court rulings and policies. At the same time, many victims’ families have supported the move, citing painful personal losses and community safety.
Around the world and in India, humane models have succeeded—sterilization, vaccination, and well-managed feeding programs have dramatically reduced rabies, improved dog health, and preserved safety for communities.
We cannot wait until it is too late. Every day this order stands, countless street dogs face cruelty and displacement. Humane alternatives exist, and they work — sterilization, vaccination, and regulated feeding are the only proven, compassionate solutions. By acting now, we can urge the Supreme Court to reverse this decision and protect the rights and lives of our street dogs. They cannot speak for themselves — but we can speak for them. Sign this petition and be their voice today.
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The Issue
Voices for the Voiceless
India’s streets are home to an estimated 62 million stray dogs, many of whom depend on the kindness of local communities for survival. These animals are not just “strays” — they are sentient beings who have coexisted with us for centuries, acting as companions, protectors, and an inseparable part of our urban and rural landscapes.
On August 11, 2025, India’s Supreme Court ordered authorities across Delhi-NCR to remove stray dogs from the streets and relocate them to shelters within eight weeks, including sterilised and vaccinated dogs. The court also banned their return to the streets and mandated shelter facilities with CCTV, medical care, and helplines, warning that obstruction could lead to contempt proceedings.
India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Animal Birth Control Rules, 2001 already recognize the rights of street dogs to live in their territories without harassment. This order undermines decades of progress made by animal welfare organizations, volunteers, and compassionate citizens. This directive now contradicts the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of 2023, which treat stray dogs as “community animals” and mandate a humane model of sterilise–vaccinate–release into their original habitats. Critics argue that the new policy ignores established law and scientific method. Experts warn that Delhi lacks the necessary infrastructure to support such large-scale sheltering. Facilities are already at capacity, and the cost of mass relocation has been described as “impractical” and financially unsustainable.
The ruling has sparked protests across cities—for instance, over 250 activists in Mumbai held a demonstration urging the adoption of sterilization and vaccination and not removal as the long-term humane solution. In Ahmedabad, dog lovers announced peaceful protests, emphasizing that caring for strays has always been a community effort. Editorials have criticized the court’s reliance on outdated bite data and anecdotes, terming the decision “arbitrary, unconstitutional, and contradictory” to prior court rulings and policies. At the same time, many victims’ families have supported the move, citing painful personal losses and community safety.
Around the world and in India, humane models have succeeded—sterilization, vaccination, and well-managed feeding programs have dramatically reduced rabies, improved dog health, and preserved safety for communities.
We cannot wait until it is too late. Every day this order stands, countless street dogs face cruelty and displacement. Humane alternatives exist, and they work — sterilization, vaccination, and regulated feeding are the only proven, compassionate solutions. By acting now, we can urge the Supreme Court to reverse this decision and protect the rights and lives of our street dogs. They cannot speak for themselves — but we can speak for them. Sign this petition and be their voice today.
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Petition created on 15 August 2025