Dog politics-Adoption by dog lovers,NGO,s and animal welfare boards is the only solution.
Gustakhi Maaf Haryana-Pawan Kumar Bansal
By our enlightened reader Satish Mehra.Dog lovers, NGOs, and animal welfare boards believe adoption is the only solution to the stray dog problem.
The love for voiceless animals cannot be denied. Undoubtedly, there are people in society who have deep affection for these creatures. Whether human or animal, proper life management is essential so that all can move forward without harming one another and prove their significance in the world.
Today, let’s talk about stray dogs, for whose management the Supreme Court has issued strict directives. The apex court has asked the Delhi government and local bodies to ensure that all stray dogs in the entire NCR region are moved to shelters within eight months. Following this order, the Delhi government has sprung into action. Now, dog lovers and the Delhi Police have come face-to-face. This matter has also taken a political turn—on one side are Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Varun Gandhi, and Maneka Gandhi, all speaking in favor of these voiceless animals.
On the other side, a Delhi BJP leader had earlier filed a petition in court regarding the problem of stray dogs, based on which the Supreme Court issued these directives to the Delhi government. The Bharatiya Janata Party appears pleased with the court’s decision.
The issue has now clearly split into two political narratives—Congress and the Gandhi family’s “humane perspective” versus BJP’s “safety-first” approach. The Supreme Court’s order has not only brought stray dog management onto the legal and administrative agenda but has also opened a new front of political confrontation. The question now is whether the government and opposition can turn this challenge into a solution, or if it will end up like many other issues—restricted to debate alone.
On 28 July 2025, the Supreme Court had, on its own, taken cognizance of the rising attacks by stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, cases of dog bites, and deaths due to rabies.
The estimated number of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR ranges between 5 lakh and 10 lakh. Delhi has only 20 sterilization centers, with extremely limited capacity—able to handle just about 5,000 dogs, far less than the actual need. Gurugram has only two shelters, with a capacity for just 100 dogs, while the stray dog population there is estimated at over 50,000. Groups such as PETA India have called this order “unscientific,” “ineffective,” and “cruel.”
On this stance, many leaders from the Gandhi family—Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Varun Gandhi, and Maneka Gandhi—have stood united, calling the court’s decision “inhumane” and saying that India is a compassionate nation.
Others argue that human life must take priority, as the growing number of dogs, cats, monkeys, and other animals without proper management has turned India into a hub for rabies. The country’s dog population alone is estimated at 15.3 crore (153 million). According to WHO, India sees an estimated 18,000–20,000 rabies deaths every year, accounting for nearly 36% of global rabies deaths. About 30–60% of these deaths are in children under 15.
In 2024, there were about 3.715 million reported dog bite cases, and in January 2025 alone, 429,000 cases were reported. Surveys suggest the total annual bites by animals could be as high as 9 million. Rabies is 100% fatal, but completely preventable if the wound is washed with soap and water for 15 minutes immediately after the bite and anti-rabies vaccinations are given on time.
Since 2021, the central government has implemented a National Action Plan aimed at intersectoral coordination and mass dog vaccination. India has joined the global initiative to eliminate dog-mediated rabies deaths by 2030, working under the ‘One Health’ model for integrated human, animal, and environmental management.
While this decision is considered necessary for protecting human lives, it also reveals the reality of animal welfare and resource management. To control rabies in India, legal orders alone won’t be enough—there’s a need for awareness, access to healthcare, vaccination drives, and a unified policy for scientific dog population management.
Following the Supreme Court’s order, the central government has swung into action. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, and the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying have prepared a master plan to control such animals. An advisory has been sent to all states stating that India has the largest dog population, with a target to vaccinate 70% of dogs in the coming year.
Apart from dogs, there are also about 5 million stray cattle and other animals in the country. The central government plans to make village panchayats responsible for their management, with help from the Animal Welfare Board.
The Gandhi family argues that the current Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules—which mandate sterilization and vaccination before releasing dogs back into their territory—offer a long-term and humane solution. BJP and its supporters call this an “emotional” approach. With the central government’s new master plan, gram panchayats, NGOs, animal welfare boards, and interested individuals will be involved in adopting stray animals for better management.