Supreme Court warns of rising stray dog attacks, urges sterilisation, relocation to shelters, and public feeding restrictions.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, while hearing a case involving stray dogs, stated that it is impossible to determine whether an animal is “in a mood to bite or not,” emphasizing that “prevention is better than cure” when dealing with dog bite cases.

The court expressed its concern over the increased frequency of attacks involving stray dogs, particularly in public and institutional settings, adding that such instances endanger public safety.

Court Highlights Systemic Failure in Rising Dog Bite Cases.

On November 7, last year, the Supreme Court noted a “alarming rise” in dog bite incidences in institutional settings such as educational institutions, hospitals, railway stations, and sports complexes. A three-judge special panel urged officials to quickly relocate stray canines to approved shelters following proper sterilization and inoculation.

The bench also stated that the canines picked up should not be returned to the regions from whence they were removed. It also commanded authorities to remove all cattle and other stray animals from state roadways, national highways, and expressways.

The court observed that frequent dog bite incidents on institutional grounds demonstrated not only administrative apathy, but a greater “systemic failure” to protect such sites from preventable hazards.

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Delhi Orders, Relocation Rules, and Feeding Restrictions.

In a separate verdict issued in July of last year, the Supreme Court ordered that all stray dogs in Delhi and surrounding areas be relocated to shelters, citing an increase in dog attacks and rabies-related deaths. The court described the situation as “extremely grim,” and warned that any individual or organization that obstructed officials from picking up stray dogs would face the “strictest action.”

The Supreme Court also mandated that dog shelters be staffed with qualified specialists capable of handling animals, performing sterilisation and immunization, and guaranteeing that dogs are not released arbitrarily.

However, in another hearing, the court specified that sterilised and immunised dogs might be released back into the same area, with the exception of canines infected with rabies, suspected of rabies, or exhibiting aggressive conduct. A three-judge bench, including Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria, issued the clarification.

Furthermore, the Supreme Court urged local authorities to develop designated feeding areas for stray dogs, emphasizing that feeding animals in public places is not permitted and that any infringement will result in severe consequences.