Why the Supreme Court’s Stray Dog Removal Plan is a Mistake
The Supreme Court’s recent order to capture, sterilise, vaccinate, and permanently relocate 5,000 to 6,000 stray dogs from Delhi-NCR is being hailed by some as a public safety measure. In reality, it is a deeply flawed solution that risks creating more problems than it solves.
Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, in force since 2023, are clear: sterilised and vaccinated dogs must be returned to their original locations. This is not just a humane provision; it is a practical one. Street dogs are territorial; removing them creates a vacuum that is quickly filled by unsterilised newcomers, restarting the population cycle. Over time, relocation without follow-up only moves the problem; it does not solve it.
Shelters in Delhi are already overcrowded. Many run by NGOs operate with limited resources, caring for hundreds of dogs each month. Adding thousands more will inevitably lead to cramped, unhygienic conditions, spreading disease and causing immense suffering to the animals the law is meant to protect. “There is no space for thousands of dogs to be housed permanently. This order ignores scientific and humane practices,” said Geeta Seshamani of Friendicoes SECA.
The ecological impact is another concern. Street dogs, while often seen as a nuisance, play a role in controlling rat and monkey populations in urban areas. Sudden mass removal risks disrupting this balance, potentially introducing new public health challenges.
On the human side, communities that have lived with and cared for local dogs for years will lose familiar, vaccinated, and socialised animals, only to face the arrival of unknown, unvaccinated ones in the future. Many residents are already tagging and documenting their neighbourhood dogs in an attempt to shield them from capture. “They are part of our community. Taking them away like this is cruel,” said East Delhi resident Arushi Chibber.
The surge in dog bite cases, nearly 2,000 per day nationwide, is alarming, but its causes run deeper than the presence of dogs alone. Poor waste management, lack of sterilisation coverage, and absence of public awareness on coexisting with animals are critical factors. Addressing these through robust ABC programmes, responsible waste disposal, and education is the proven, long-term path.
Delhi now faces a choice between a quick, politically satisfying fix and a sustainable, humane strategy. The latter demands more effort, but it is the only path that truly protects both people and the animals that share our streets.
FACT FILE: Why Mass Removal Fails and ABC Works
1. Scientific Evidence
-
The "vacuum effect" is well documented; removed dogs are replaced by unsterilised newcomers within months.
-
Returning sterilised dogs keeps populations stable and prevents uncontrolled breeding.
2. Global Precedents
-
Jaipur, India: Dog population reduced by 28% in 5 years through ABC, with rabies cases dropping to zero.
-
Kerala, India: Mass culling attempts in 2015 saw no long-term reduction, and bite cases returned to pre-cull levels within 18 months.
3. Ecological Role of Street Dogs
-
Help control rodent populations that spread leptospirosis and plague.
-
Keep monkey numbers in check in some urban pockets by defending territory.
4. Welfare Concerns
-
Overcrowded shelters increase the risk of canine distemper, parvovirus, and kennel cough.
-
Permanent confinement for previously free-roaming dogs causes severe stress and behavioural decline.
5. Better Solutions
-
Expand ABC coverage to at least 80% of the street dog population.
-
Improve waste management to remove a major food source for unowned dogs.
-
Run public awareness campaigns on coexistence, bite prevention, and rabies vaccination.
No comments:
Post a Comment