1. The Supreme Court’s Directive: What Did It Say? On August 11, 2025, a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan, issued a suo motu directive to remove all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR streets and relocate them to shelters within six to eight weeks. The rationale: rising dog bites and rabies risk, particularly affecting children and the elderly.

The court emphasized public safety above all and warned of strict legal action against individuals or groups obstructing this effort. Additionally, the Court mandated humane treatment within shelters—no cruelty or overcrowding, with authorities required to build facilities for 5,000 dogs within six to eight weeks, while also considering adoption under strict conditions. The case has since been moved to a three-judge bench, with deliberations ongoing as of August 14, to examine whether the directive aligns with existing laws like the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules.

2. Why Animal Rights Advocates See It as Destructive to Our Fur Babies a. Undermines Humane, Science-Based Solutions The ABC Rules (2023)—which call for sterilization, vaccination, and return of street dogs to their habitat—are being sidelined. Activists argue these are proven, compassionate methods to control stray populations.

b. Feasibility Gaps Could Harm Dogs Many shelters in the region already operate at capacity. The push to build massive new facilities too quickly raises concerns about overcrowding, poor care, and vulnerabilities to disease and stress among the dogs.

c. Risks Ecological Imbalance Seasoned advocates like Maneka Gandhi warn this might mirror 19th-century Paris—removing stray dogs led to unchecked rat populations and associated public health disasters. Similarly, reports highlight how Surat’s dog culling precipitated bubonic plague due to rodent outbreaks. d. Legal and Ethical Oversight Critics, including The Wire, argue the move disregards animals’ constitutional protection under Article 51A(g), which mandates compassion for all living beings. The court’s dismissal of animal welfare as “sentiments” betrays the constitutional duty, say advocates.

e. Economic and Biodiversity Consequences The logistics—shelter setup, staffing, ongoing care—are enormously expensive and could incentivize pet-breeding businesses. Overcrowded shelters also risk disease outbreaks and further h