Dogs, danger, debate

Strap (Page 1): Supreme Court’s stray dog ruling sparks public backlash, leaving city to balance fear, coexistence & effective management

Strap (Page 8&9): SC stray dog orders spark fear, confusion & heated safety debates in Bangalore

Blurb:

While stray dog bites pose genuine risks, labelling all street animals as aggressive overlooks the role of human behaviour and systemic gaps in public health and waste management.

Byline: Shivani Venugopal

When a division bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan recently ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi and NCR be captured and housed permanently within six to eight weeks—barring release back onto the streets—the ruling sparked a nationwide debate.

However, following protests by animal lovers, activists, and organisations, the Supreme Court revised its stance last week. A new bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria, stayed the earlier order, directing authorities to release canines picked up for sterilisation and immunisation.

The revised ruling clarified that stray dogs should be returned to their original locations—except those infected with rabies or showing aggressive behaviour. “They shall be dewormed, vaccinated, etc., and sent back to the same area,” the order stated, adding that public feeding of dogs is prohibited.

In Bangalore, where the stray dog issue has long been simmering, the impact of the Supreme Court’s revised order was immediately felt.

Mary, 31, a housekeeping staffer from Koramangala, expressed distress over the decision. She fears the ruling could be implemented in Bangalore soon, putting residents at risk.

“Three months ago, my ten-year-old son was attacked by a stray dog while going to tuition. He was grievously injured and had to miss school for a month. Even if strays are sterilised and immunised, we are the ones who suffer. For a family like ours, spending around Rs 5,000 on treatment is a huge burden. Stray dogs are indeed a nuisance in our area,” she says.

 

Conflicting dog views

According to the 2023 census by the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), Bangalore is home to approximately 2.79 lakh stray dogs. By early 2025, the BBMP had recorded 13,831 dog bite cases—a 36% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

Amid this rising tide of incidents, Brinda Adige, a children’s and women’s rights activist, calls the Supreme Court’s modified directive “ambiguous and absurd.” She points out the lack of clarity on timelines for establishing dedicated feeding spaces and the discretion given to authorities regarding ferocious stray dogs—most of which, she notes, are aggressive by nature.

“While the revised directive prohibits public feeding of stray dogs and mandates that municipal authorities create dedicated feeding spaces in each ward, it does not specify any time frame for implementation,” Adige notes, raising concerns for public safety.

She adds that the ruling overlooks the daily struggles of citizens who face attacks. “There is no guidance on how these designated feeding spaces will keep dogs secure. The SC directive is riddled with ambiguity and seems to conveniently ignore the real plight of people terrorised by stray dogs, who bear the brunt of their bites,” laments Adige.

Following BBMP’s “One Dog, One House” initiative—a programme aimed at managing Bangalore’s stray dog population by assigning individual caretakers to specific dogs, reducing pack behaviour and mitigating dog bite incidents—Shaurya Agrawal, Advocacy Associate at PETA India, urges pet lovers to adopt dogs in need from the streets or shelters, and to sterilise their companion dogs to support sterilisation efforts, rather than buying from pet stores or breeders.

Differing from Brinda Adige’s view that most strays are aggressive, Agrawal emphasises the importance of ample feeding areas in every lane to nurture friendly dogs, making them easier to treat, sterilise, and vaccinate.

“Friendly dogs do not bite, which is why feeders are so important. It is vital for us to be kind to dogs. Dogs are generally good-natured, but when kicked, beaten, or abused, they may react in what they perceive as self-defence; every animal, including humans, would do the same. Sterilised dogs are calmer, have access to more resources, and are less likely to bite because they have no puppies to guard or protect,” he explains.

While the BBMP is already implementing Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes—catching, vaccinating, and sterilising dogs before releasing them, in line with Supreme Court directives for Delhi and NCR—the rising number of dog bite cases in Bangalore remains a public concern.

Sai Geetha, founder of Sharanaksh, an organisation that rescues and rehabilitates community dogs, views the revised SC directive as more humane. Yet, like Adige, she finds the order’s lack of clarity on defining “aggressive” dogs problematic if applied in Bangalore.

“I have several serious concerns about the order’s execution and consequences. The lack of clarity is a major issue. For instance, the order fails to define ‘aggressive’ or ‘sick’ dogs. As a feeder, I know that rabies is suspected until a post-mortem brain biopsy is done, and its symptoms can mimic other ailments,” Geetha notes.

She warns that ambiguity in labelling a dog aggressive could allow individuals with personal dislike for dogs to misinterpret behaviour and file complaints without proper verification. “The order should have been more explicit on handling such cases, including providing a clear framework for professional diagnosis and specifying what happens to the animals afterward—whether they are treated or permanently removed,” Geetha stresses.

 

The way forward

While many view the Supreme Court order as ambiguous, the conflict between humans and animals in urban spaces remains a persistent issue, demanding a holistic approach with clearer guidelines.

Mary and her son, still traumatised by a recent dog attack, see stray dogs as a menace. In contrast, Sai Geetha takes offence at the term “stray dogs,” insisting they be referred to as community animals. According to her, street dogs are not inherently a threat; often, it is human behaviour that creates problems—a perspective echoed by Shaurya Agrawal.

Geetha advocates for humane, effective ways to ensure public safety while fostering coexistence with community animals, emphasising the government’s active role in public awareness and education. “The government should consider making annual rabies vaccinations (ARV) mandatory for humans, similar to tetanus shots,” she suggests.

Highlighting institutional shortcomings, she points to limited access to crucial treatments like Human Rabies Immunoglobulin (HRIG). “HRIG isn’t widely available. It’s often found only in large government hospitals or comes at prohibitive costs in private facilities.

This lack of access and public awareness—especially in rural areas—means people bitten by dogs often don’t receive necessary treatment. When deaths occur, it’s an institutional failure, not the fault of the dogs,” Geetha explains.

Efficient waste management is another key factor in controlling the dog population. “Garbage, including organic waste from meat processing and industrial by-products like cocoon production, serves as the primary food source for street animals. By managing waste efficiently and limiting these resources, we can naturally curb the population of street dogs,” she asserts.

The ongoing conflict between humans and community dogs in Bangalore underscores the need for coexistence rooted in understanding and responsibility. While stray dog bites pose genuine risks, labelling all street animals as aggressive overlooks the role of human behaviour and systemic gaps in public health and waste management. Experts advocate humane approaches—sterilisation, vaccinations, dedicated feeding spaces, and public awareness—to protect both people and animals.

Coexistence requires collaboration between citizens, authorities, and animal welfare groups, ensuring safety without cruelty. Only through empathy, education, and structured governance can Bangalore foster a city where humans and community dogs thrive side by side.

 

BOX –

Bangalore’s Stray Dog Population

• Estimated Population: Approximately 2.79 lakh (279,335) stray dogs within BBMP limits, according to the 2023 census
• Population Density: Mahadevapura zone leads with 58,341 strays, while RR Nagar follows with 41,266

 

Dog Bite Statistics

• 2025 Surge: 13,831 dog bite cases reported in the first half of 2025 within BBMP limits, marking a 36% increase from the same period in 2024
• Statewide Trend: Karnataka recorded 2.31 lakh dog bite cases and 19 rabies deaths in the first half of 2025, a 36% rise compared to 2024

 

Supreme Court’s Revised Directive

• Initial Order: Mandated permanent sheltering of all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR within six to eight weeks
• Revised Order: Allowed sterilized, vaccinated, and dewormed dogs to be returned to their original locations; excluded aggressive or rabid dogs from public spaces
• National Implication: Directed all States and Union Territories to develop a uniform stray dog management policy based on Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules, including designated feeding zones

 

BBMP’s Initiatives

• ‘One Dog, One House’: A program aimed at assigning individual caretakers to specific dogs to reduce pack behaviour and mitigate dog bite incidents.
• Feeding Programme: BBMP launched a ₹9 crore initiative to feed stray dogs with chicken and rice, collaborating with over 100 hotels in the city
• Sterilisation Efforts: Over 50,000 dogs vaccinated in the first half of 2025