Dear Shri Rahul Gandhi ji and Smt. Priyanka Gandhi ji,

I write to you on behalf of hundreds of animal lovers, caregivers, and welfare organizations deeply concerned about the recent Supreme Court order directing the mass removal of street dogs in Delhi. While we fully support efforts to address rabies and public safety, the current order, without adequate infrastructure, planning, or humane safeguards, risks causing immense suffering to innocent animals and creating chaos on the ground.

Under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules 2023 and previous Supreme Court judgments, community dogs have the right to remain in their territories post-sterilization and vaccination. The current approach of mass capture, without verifying vaccination/sterilization status and without sufficient shelter facilities, violates these laws. Existing “pounds” lack basic infrastructure, space, and food supplies — moving lakhs of dogs into such conditions will be inhumane and unmanageable, worsening public health risks rather than reducing them.

We also have grave concerns that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has already begun picking up dogs without any official written order, creating fear, disruption, and distress among animals and their caregivers. This pre-emptive action is unlawful and undermines trust in due process.

We urgently appeal for your intervention to:

Advocate for a stay on this order and ensure strict adherence to the ABC Rules 2023 and WHO-endorsed rabies management protocols.
Support legal challenges and petitions filed by animal welfare groups, and mobilize political and public platforms to address this with compassion and legality.
Your leadership in protecting the voiceless will not only prevent a humanitarian and animal welfare crisis but also uphold India’s commitment to humane and lawful treatment of animals. We look forward to your urgent support.

Regards

Delhi Animal Activists