Protect the rights of street dogs
The Issue
The Issue - Every living being deserves dignity, compassion and protection under the law. Urge the authorities to enforce the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and end the cruelty, unlawful removal and confinement of street dogs!
For decades, India has recognised compassion towards animals as a legal and constitutional value. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 makes cruelty to animals an offence. The Animal Welfare Board of India was set up under it to protect animal welfare. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 provide a humane, scientific method of managing street dog populations: sterilisation, vaccination against rabies, and return of the dogs to the area from which they were captured.
However, these laws and principles are now being ignored. Across the country, street dogs are being unlawfully captured, relocated and confined, and some are beaten, stoned or poisoned. Such treatment is against the letter and the spirit of the law.
We must prevent it! I have grown up sharing my neighbourhood with street dogs. They keep watch over our lanes and are part of the life of our community. They are not nuisances to be removed. They are living beings who depend on us.
The law is clear on this. • Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja (2014) 7 SCC 547: The Supreme Court held that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution includes the right of animals to live with dignity and to be free from cruelty and unnecessary pain.
• Supreme Court, August 2025 (suo motu matter on stray dogs): The Court modified its earlier direction and held that stray dogs are to be released after sterilisation and vaccination, except dogs that are rabid or show aggressive behaviour.
Science supports the law as - The World Health Organization states that dogs are responsible for up to 99% of human rabies cases, and recommends mass dog vaccination as the effective way to eliminate dog-mediated rabies. Vaccinating at least 70% of the dog population is the recommended coverage to break the transmission cycle. India's own National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination aims to end dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Removal and confinement of dogs do not achieve this. Sterilisation and vaccination do.
Cruelty towards street dogs is a punishable offence and a failure of our duty as citizens.
Please join us in urging the authorities to enforce the law immediately.
If you sign this petition, we will email the Secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India, with the below text on your behalf:
Dear Secretary,
I urge you to ensure strict enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 for the protection of street dogs.
I am deeply concerned about the rising incidents of cruelty, unlawful capture, relocation and confinement of community dogs. The objective of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 is to manage the street dog population humanely through sterilisation and vaccination. However, in many places these Rules are being ignored, and dogs are being removed from their territories and confined, contrary to the law.
Such acts violate Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and go against Article 51A(g) of the Constitution, which makes it a fundamental duty of every citizen to have compassion for living creatures.
The Supreme Court in Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja (2014) held that animals have the right to live with dignity and to be free from cruelty. In its order of August 2025, the Court again affirmed that sterilised and vaccinated dogs are to be released, except those that are rabid or aggressive.
We call upon your good offices to recognise that true public safety lies in vaccination, sterilisation and responsible coexistence, not in cruelty or confinement. We request that the Board take steps to ensure:
•Enforcement of the ABC Rules, 2023: Direct local bodies to carry out sterilisation and vaccination programmes and return dogs to the area from which they were captured.
•Action against cruelty: Ensure prompt registration of complaints and action under Section 11 of the PCA Act and Section 325 of the BNS against those who beat, poison or harm street dogs.
•Prevention of unlawful confinement: Ensure that no dog is removed, relocated or confined in violation of the Rules.
•Awareness and coexistence: Promote awareness programmes, especially in schools, on rabies prevention and safe interaction with community dogs.
India has an opportunity to build on the progress it has made and continue to lead by example.
You have the power to lead it. Help us protect, not harm.
Thank you.
80
The Issue
The Issue - Every living being deserves dignity, compassion and protection under the law. Urge the authorities to enforce the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 and end the cruelty, unlawful removal and confinement of street dogs!
For decades, India has recognised compassion towards animals as a legal and constitutional value. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 makes cruelty to animals an offence. The Animal Welfare Board of India was set up under it to protect animal welfare. The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 provide a humane, scientific method of managing street dog populations: sterilisation, vaccination against rabies, and return of the dogs to the area from which they were captured.
However, these laws and principles are now being ignored. Across the country, street dogs are being unlawfully captured, relocated and confined, and some are beaten, stoned or poisoned. Such treatment is against the letter and the spirit of the law.
We must prevent it! I have grown up sharing my neighbourhood with street dogs. They keep watch over our lanes and are part of the life of our community. They are not nuisances to be removed. They are living beings who depend on us.
The law is clear on this. • Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja (2014) 7 SCC 547: The Supreme Court held that the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution includes the right of animals to live with dignity and to be free from cruelty and unnecessary pain.
• Supreme Court, August 2025 (suo motu matter on stray dogs): The Court modified its earlier direction and held that stray dogs are to be released after sterilisation and vaccination, except dogs that are rabid or show aggressive behaviour.
Science supports the law as - The World Health Organization states that dogs are responsible for up to 99% of human rabies cases, and recommends mass dog vaccination as the effective way to eliminate dog-mediated rabies. Vaccinating at least 70% of the dog population is the recommended coverage to break the transmission cycle. India's own National Action Plan for Dog Mediated Rabies Elimination aims to end dog-mediated human rabies by 2030. Removal and confinement of dogs do not achieve this. Sterilisation and vaccination do.
Cruelty towards street dogs is a punishable offence and a failure of our duty as citizens.
Please join us in urging the authorities to enforce the law immediately.
If you sign this petition, we will email the Secretary, Animal Welfare Board of India, with the below text on your behalf:
Dear Secretary,
I urge you to ensure strict enforcement of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 for the protection of street dogs.
I am deeply concerned about the rising incidents of cruelty, unlawful capture, relocation and confinement of community dogs. The objective of the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 is to manage the street dog population humanely through sterilisation and vaccination. However, in many places these Rules are being ignored, and dogs are being removed from their territories and confined, contrary to the law.
Such acts violate Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 and Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and go against Article 51A(g) of the Constitution, which makes it a fundamental duty of every citizen to have compassion for living creatures.
The Supreme Court in Animal Welfare Board of India v. A. Nagaraja (2014) held that animals have the right to live with dignity and to be free from cruelty. In its order of August 2025, the Court again affirmed that sterilised and vaccinated dogs are to be released, except those that are rabid or aggressive.
We call upon your good offices to recognise that true public safety lies in vaccination, sterilisation and responsible coexistence, not in cruelty or confinement. We request that the Board take steps to ensure:
•Enforcement of the ABC Rules, 2023: Direct local bodies to carry out sterilisation and vaccination programmes and return dogs to the area from which they were captured.
•Action against cruelty: Ensure prompt registration of complaints and action under Section 11 of the PCA Act and Section 325 of the BNS against those who beat, poison or harm street dogs.
•Prevention of unlawful confinement: Ensure that no dog is removed, relocated or confined in violation of the Rules.
•Awareness and coexistence: Promote awareness programmes, especially in schools, on rabies prevention and safe interaction with community dogs.
India has an opportunity to build on the progress it has made and continue to lead by example.
You have the power to lead it. Help us protect, not harm.
Thank you.
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Petition created on 20 October 2026