Here is my take on the street dogs & the Supreme Court Order
The Supreme Court’s decision to drive all street dogs out of Delhi NCR streets has left me conflicted. On the one hand, public safety is paramount. Dog bite cases, particularly those involving children, cannot be overlooked. The court aims to protect the puclic and that is crucial but then what we do counts too. Indian shelters are already full, under-resourced, and in some cases, not safe for animals. Relocating thousands of territorial community dogs in just 6-8 weeks feels unrealistic and arguably unncessarily cruel
We’ve tried this before - the dogs are taken away but within few months new unsterilized and unvaccinated ones take their place. That’s the vacuum effect. The issue doesn’t go away; it just relocates.
In my view, the wiser path ahead is
- Enhance the Animal Birth Control (ABC) + vaccination programs
-Secure urban public spaces with awareness and infrastructure while safeguarding both people and animals Public safety and compassion are not adversaries; they simply require a superior plan to collaborate.
What’s your take is the court’s order an ambitious solution or an impulsive response?
Somehow I find the decision welcoming and I completely agree with it. The streets have become scary and the dogs have literally become predatory to pedestrians and two wheeler travellers. I don’t dislike animals. But when the streets become dangerous for your kids and yourself, this kind of measures become necessary. Previous methods like vaccination and sterilisation have proved to be useless and implemented half - heartedly, maybe this decision will finally improve the state of the shelters and safer streets for humans. The streets are built for humans. So should not we be able to use it peacefully?
I feel this decision is made with good intentions for public safety, but the way it’s planned seems too sudden and not practical. Street dogs have been part of our surroundings for years, and just removing all of them in a few weeks will create more problems than it solves. Like you mentioned, the vacuum effect is real — if sterilized and vaccinated dogs are removed, new unvaccinated dogs will come, and the risk will be even higher. Instead, I think the focus should be on more ABC surgeries, vaccinations, and proper management of public spaces. That way both people and dogs can be safe. Safety and compassion can go together if planned well.
Definitely misunderstood victims! I mean let’s be honest these innocent animals weren’t bought up being taught manners and stuff. Guess who were? We human’s. You really think humans don’t provoke animals to behave the way they behave with them? Stone pelting, bursting crackers near them, applying colours to dogs and other animals in the name of holi. This isn’t animal abuse? Yes, the vaccination and sterilization drives were carried out but were they done properly? Was anything submitted in those regards? I honestly think this should have been dealt more sensitively, like maybe a program around the Delhi in phase wise instead of keeping all the animals in cages or places locked up. Would humans accept the same if it was done with them?
Dog lovers should know this feeling but as a indian citizen i think it good for us because i have seen one case dog bite a 3-4 years child his the children’s skin of head hand is all bite by dog i have seen a bone directly by this case i think government is doing well works.
This is a good decision, as street dogs have become a cause of serious concern to humans, particularly children and the elderly. Street dogs attacks have increased, so as the chance of getting the deadly disease, rabies. I think this approach would calm the situation to some extend and help to protect the public health. However, the Government should also take adequate measures to ensure the availability of the resources and the proper functioning of shelter homes, as animal lives also matters.
More steps has to be taken to implement the decision . It is a safer option to take away dogs for people. Once dogs are taken away , make sure no new unsterilized dogs has arrived through thorough inspection.
How this court order unfolds is what we need to see. There’s no significance if it has occurred due to a reaction to fear without any proper long-term plan. I feel the stray dogs should be cared for at designated places, vaccinated, sterilized, and managed benevolently. I agree that they should not be left on the streets without care in the name of kindness, as that’s not a smart/warm decision (because within a community set-up, safety and health of humans is predominant). The right balance can only be created by keeping the dogs safe in proper shelters; while keeping people safe with strict rules in busy/high-risk areas. There should be distinct and proper channels to report when problems happen and public awareness about living with animals should be established. According to me, a good decision is the one that can provide protection to both human and dogs at the same time concurrently.
Its a good decision . Dog bite cases particularly in children are increasing . But every life matter so that dogs should be send to dog shelters and taken proper care , vaccinated , sterilized . we have to look after that how much strictly this law will be implemented with proper awareness . In my view the law is good when it favour both human and animal .
This topic really made me think. I agree that public safety is important, especially with rising dog bite cases. But removing all street dogs so quickly feels harsh and not practical. Shelters are already struggling, and the vacuum effect shows this won’t solve the issue long-term. Instead, improving ABC and vaccination programs sounds like a better plan. We need solutions that protect both people and animals. Safety and compassion should go hand in hand.
I believe the decision is appropriate, as it creates a win–win situation for both local residents and the street dogs. In many cases, stray animals are not treated well, and transferring them to animal care shelters can ensure they receive proper care and attention. Moreover, unvaccinated dogs pose potential risks, such as biting people or children, which can lead to serious health concerns. Relocating them to shelters not only safeguards the community but also improves the welfare of the animals.
Public safety matters, but removing all street dogs isn’t a lasting fix. Enhancing sterilization, vaccination, and awareness is a better way to protect both people and animals.
While public safety is essential, removing street dogs completely may be a temporary solution that creates new problems. Increasing sterilization and vaccination programs, along with better awareness, could provide more sustainable protection for humans and animals. It’s a complicated problem that requires a long-term solution.
I feel this decision is quite inhumane we and dogs can coexist together if rather than completely distancing them from us we can go for methods like sterilization and vaccinations of the stray dogs.
Delhi doesn’t have enough shelter ,we need a balanced plan that keep people safe ,caring dogs too. By steady control,awareness and proper handling of stray dogs management ,not sudden removal.
It’s a deeply divided issue — some see stray dogs as a safety risk due to rising bite incidents, while others argue they’re victims of neglect and poor urban planning. The real solution likely lies in balanced measures: responsible population control, better waste management, and community education, rather than demonizing or ignoring the animals.
Your thoughtful take on street dogs and the Supreme Court order in Delhi NCR also brings to mind a similar problem with pigeons in the city. Like dogs, pigeons have been labeled as public nuisances, pigeon droppings cause severe health problems, as they are not only unsightly but also harbor harmful bacteria and fungi. The germs found in pigeon feathers add another layer of risk, posing threats of infections and respiratory issues to people in urban areas. Efforts to control their population or relocate them often fail, leading to a vacuum effect where new pigeons quickly replace the old ones.
Both situations show how hard it can be to balance public safety with kindness towards animals living in cities. Instead of just removing or relocating them, a better way could be to run stronger sterilization and vaccination programs for street dogs, and set up safe spaces and awareness drives for pigeons. Safety and compassion can go hand in hand we just need smart, cooperative planning that allows people and animals to live together peacefully.
I wish they find nice homes or organization take care of them ! At the end of the day both humans and dogs should be safe