The Supreme Court of India has ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi and surrounding areas be removed from the streets and placed in animal shelters within eight weeks. The decision was made due to the growing threat of rabies resulting from dog bites.
According to official data, the number of stray dogs in Delhi is close to one million, and the figures are also rising in Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram. The WHO reports that India accounts for 36% of rabies deaths worldwide.
Under the court’s ruling, shelters capable of housing at least 5,000 dogs each will be built. They will be equipped with sterilisation and vaccination facilities, as well as CCTV systems. Releasing sterilised dogs back onto the streets will be prohibited. In addition, a special hotline for reporting dog bites and rabies cases must be set up within a week.
Animal rights activists believe the deadline is unrealistic. According to PAWS founder Nilesh Bhanage, existing shelters in Indian cities cover less than 1% of the required capacity. He believes the solution lies in strengthening vaccination and sterilisation programmes, as well as improving waste management systems.
Official statistics show that in 2024 there were 3.7 million reported cases of dog bites in India. According to WHO, rabies kills 18–20 thousand people in the country every year, while government data records 54 rabies deaths in 2024.
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