India’s stray animal crisis and global intervention approaches

Source: The post “India’s stray animal crisis and global intervention approaches” has been created, based on “India’s stray animal crisis and global intervention approaches” published in “Indian Express” on 15 November 2025.

UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper 2- Governance

Context: The Supreme Court has recently directed the immediate removal of stray dogs from public areas and their relocation to designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination. The order—mandating uniform implementation across India and requiring compliance certificates within eight weeks—comes at a time when India faces a severe stray animal and public health crisis, particularly linked to dog bites and rabies.

Why did the Supreme Court issue this order?

1. Escalating public health threat:  The 2025 State of Pet Homelessness Project reports that India has 100.09 million dogs and cats, including 85.61 million dogs and 14.48 million cats. 71% of dogs and 61% of cats in India are homeless. About 52.5 million dogs and 8 million cats roam freely as strays.
2. High dog-bite cases and rabies deaths: India recorded 3.7 million dog-bite cases in 2024. 99% of rabies deaths in India occur due to dog bites. Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear.
3. Public safety and administrative concerns: The Court emphasised uniform compliance and directed that strays must not be released back to the pickup location, diverging from earlier practices. The ruling reflects growing national concern over uncontrolled stray populations, rising attacks, and preventable deaths.

How does India currently manage its stray population?

India’s framework is governed by the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, based on humane and scientific population management.

1. Role of Local Bodies: Municipalities and panchayats are responsible for sterilisation and vaccination through AWBI-approved organisations.
2. Humane Capture and Surgery Norms: All procedures must prevent cruelty and follow veterinary standards.
3. CNVR Model (Catch–Neuter–Vaccinate–Return): Traditionally mandated returning animals to their original territories to prevent pack aggression and maintain ecological balance.
4. Standards for ABC Centres: Adequate kennel facilities, post-operative care, and access to veterinary hospitals.
5. Shift after SC Order: The Court’s direction to relocate and not release strays back marks a major departure from previous CNVR norms.

How do other countries manage stray animals?

1. Greece: Municipalities run comprehensive systems for capture, sterilisation, registration, rehoming, and in some cases euthanasia after 3 months. Pets must be microchipped and registered.
2. Cyprus: Strict Dog Licensing Law for all dogs over two months old. Strays are held for 15 days for owners to reclaim; unclaimed animals are rehomed or euthanised. Cat sterilisation is limited due to insufficient funding.
3. Netherlands: Considered the only country with zero stray dogs. Achieved through: Long-standing anti-cruelty laws (since 1864), High taxes on pet purchase to discourage abandonment, Nationwide CNVR and a dedicated animal police force.

Challenges in India’s Stray Management System

1. Insufficient ABC infrastructure: Lack of adequate sterilisation centres, veterinary staff, and shelter space.
2. Low sterilisation coverage: Only a small fraction of strays undergo sterilisation, allowing rapid repopulation.
3. Weak enforcement of pet ownership laws: Poor registration compliance, unchecked breeding, and widespread pet abandonment.
4. Funding and capacity gaps: Many local bodies lack dedicated budgets and trained personnel.
5. Public behaviour and community resistance: Street feeding in unregulated public spaces leads to territorial aggression and conflicts.
6. Absence of reliable stray population data: No standardised national stray census hampers planning.
7. High rabies prevalence and low vaccination coverage: Limits the effectiveness of sterilisation programmes.

Way Forward

1. Strengthen ABC and Shelter Infrastructure: Establish more ABC centres, mobile sterilisation units, and improve veterinary capacity.
2. Enforce Responsible Pet Ownership: Mandatory microchipping, registration, and breeding regulations. Strict penalties for abandonment.
3. National Mission on Stray Animal Management: A centrally coordinated programme with uniform standards—on the lines of Swachh Bharat/National Rabies Control Programme.
4. Digital Monitoring Systems: GIS-based dog population mapping, online ABC dashboards, and tracking of sterilised/vaccinated animals.
5. Regulated Feeding Zones: Create designated community feeding points supervised by RWAs/ULBs to reduce human–animal conflict.
6. Learn from Global Best Practices: Stronger pet taxation and anti-cruelty enforcement (Netherlands model). Municipal responsibility and rehoming systems (Greece).
7. Public Awareness and Adoption Drives: Large-scale campaigns to promote vaccination, sterilisation, adoption, and responsible ownership.

Conclusion: India’s stray animal crisis is a multidimensional problem involving public health, animal welfare, and municipal governance. The Supreme Court’s mandate underscores the urgent need for scientific, humane, and enforceable mechanisms for population control. A combination of strong legal enforcement, robust infrastructure, and community participation is essential to create safe public spaces while ensuring compassionate treatment of animals.

Question: Why did the Supreme Court order the removal of stray dogs, and how does India manage its stray population? Examine the challenges and suggest a way forward.