In a landmark and contentious ruling, India’s Supreme Court has mandated the removal of all stray dogs from public areas in Delhi-NCR, including Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram. Authorities are tasked with capturing approximately 5,000–6,000 dogs from "high-risk" zones within six to eight weeks, relocating them permanently to shelters.

The Court specified these shelters must be equipped for sterilisation, vaccination, and CCTV monitoring, to ensure dogs are not released back into the streets. Relatives of juvenile safety were foregrounded “infants, young children should not fall prey,” the bench declared. Strict legal penalties including contempt proceedings await anyone who obstructs the process. A helpline for dog-bite cases is also to be established.

The decision has sparked sharp backlash from animal welfare groups, who argue that it contravenes the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, and international best practices. Critics label the order “unscientific,” “inhumane,” and potentially counterproductive warning that displacement may exacerbate conflict, induce territorial strife, and fail to reduce rabies risk. They advocate for mass sterilisation and vaccination efforts instead, deeming these strategies both humane and evidence-based.