In a decisive move to tackle India’s escalating stray dog problem, the Central Government has issued new directives mandating all districts to submit monthly reports on stray dogs removed from public spaces and the personnel deployed for the task. The reports will be reviewed centrally to monitor compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders and the new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).
The renewed focus comes amid rising incidents of dog-bite cases and related injuries nationwide, which government sources and public health data describe as approaching a public health crisis. According to official figures, India recorded over 37 lakh dog bite cases in 2024, with dozens of rabies-related deaths highlighting the urgency of concerted action.
New SOPs: Balancing Animal Welfare and Human Safety
The AWBI’s SOPs, aligned with Supreme Court directions issued earlier this year, lay out structured protocols for managing the stray dog population, particularly in sensitive institutional areas such as schools, hospitals, transport hubs and public buildings.
Under the updated system:
Municipal and panchayat bodies are made directly accountable for implementing dog-management operations, including removal, sterilisation, vaccination and monitoring.
Dog bite incidents are formally recognised as a public health threat, with human safety firmly prioritised in crisis situations, even as animal welfare remains an important concern.
District administrations must produce monthly compliance reports, detailing the number of stray dogs removed and the staffing deployed. These reports will feed into central reviews to ensure nationwide uniformity and accountability.
Officials emphasise that routine monitoring will help identify gaps in both manpower and infrastructure long-standing challenges for local civic bodies.
Supreme Court Orders Spur Action
This tightening of policy follows multiple Supreme Court directives this year aimed at curbing the stray dog problem. In November, a three-judge bench noted an “alarming rise” in dog bite cases and instructed states and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from institutional premises including educational institutions, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations and relocate them to authorised shelters after due sterilisation and vaccination.
The apex court has stressed that once removed from sensitive areas, dogs should not be released back into the same location, and authorities were urged to erect fencing and strengthen perimeter protections.
Public Safety Statistics Underline the Crisis
The push for reform reflects deeply troubling trends in stray dog-related incidents:
Nagpur recently reported a 62% increase in dog bite cases over four years, with over 6,000 incidents already in 2025 alone.
In Mumbai, authorities disclosed more than 1.28 lakh dog bite cases in 2024, underscoring the severity of the situation in metropolitan centres.
Such statistics have intensified calls from health experts and policymakers for robust, enforceable action that protects citizens especially children and the elderly, who are disproportionately affected.
State-Level Responses and Challenges
Local civic bodies are already responding: Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation has appointed 25 nodal officers to ensure public and private buildings remain dog-free zones, and is rolling out vaccination and sterilisation campaigns in tandem with the new mandates.
However, enforcement remains uneven. In Hyderabad, officials admit that limited shelter capacity and high stray numbers hinder compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives, even as task forces expand and fencing efforts continue.
Meanwhile, animal rights groups and activists in Mumbai have challenged state government orders in the Bombay High Court, arguing that certain removal policies may violate animal welfare laws and lead to cruelty or harassment of caregivers.
What This Means Going Forward
The government’s latest crackdown marks a significant policy shift in how India confronts its stray dog dilemma. By tying district-level accountability to central monitoring, and integrating judicial directives with administrative action, authorities hope to create a safer environment for citizens while still upholding humane treatment for animals.
As compliance timelines progress and reporting begins, stakeholders from municipal officials to health experts will be watching closely to see whether these measures yield measurable declines in dog bite incidents and whether the balance between public safety and animal welfare can be maintained in practice.
