The supreme court initially ordered all strays picked up in Delhi to be confined to shelters after sterilisation and vaccination rather than being returned to the streets. The objective was to protect people, especially children, from dog attacks and endemic rabies. Critics warned the shelter-based plan was unrealistic and prohibitively expensive, with concerns about caging and mortality. Delhi is estimated to have up to one million stray dogs. The court suspended the catch-and-keep approach and recommended sterilisation, vaccination, deworming and return to neighbourhoods, with shelters reserved for aggressive or rabid animals. Animal welfare groups welcomed the renewed focus on community dog care.
Earlier this month, the supreme court ruled that all strays picked up in Delhi's capital region would be confined to shelters after sterilisation and vaccination, and not returned to the streets. The goal was to protect people particularly children from dog attacks and rabies, which remains endemic in India. Critics had said the plan was unrealistic. Veterinarian Harjun Singh said: The cost of constructing proper shelters would be prohibitive.
Animal welfare group Peta said: They say every dog has her day, and today is the day [for India's] community dogs. The decision shows the majority think of community dogs as beloved neighbours and friends. Now, with a renewed focus on sterilisation and vaccination, the rest of India can move closer to the day that no dogs are left to suffer hunger, accidents and cruelty on the roads.
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