Stray Dogs

The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain the mentioning of a plea which alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has said that the apex court has given a "free hand" to kill stray dogs. "Just because a chief minister makes a statement, does that mean we have to change our order?" a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta told the counsel, who mentioned the matter. The counsel said after the top court's May 19 order in the stray dogs case, the Punjab chief minister had allegedly tweeted that the Supreme Court "has given a free hand to kill stray dogs". "You go to the Punjab High Court," the bench observed, adding, "We are not entertaining your mentioning". The counsel claimed that stray dogs were being killed after the top court's order. In a significant verdict delivered on May 19, the top court allowed euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill, dangerous and aggressive dogs to curb threat to human lives, saying the right to live with dignity encompasses the right

The Punjab government on Friday launched a campaign to remove stray dogs from public spaces, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asserting that the state will follow the Supreme Court order in letter and spirit. "The Punjab government will strictly follow, in letter and spirit, the Supreme Court order given on May 19, 2026. As per the SC orders, we will remove stray dogs from all high footfall public spaces so that children, senior citizens and families can move freely without fearing for their safety," Mann said in a post on X on Friday. "We will create and maintain an adequate number of dog shelters where they can be cared for properly," Mann wrote, promising legally-permissible measures including euthanasia in cases involving rabid, incurably ill or demonstrably dangerous and aggressive dogs, which may pose a threat to human life and safety, He said the measures will be taken strictly in accordance with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the ABC (Animal Birth Control) ...

The Supreme Court has refused to dilute its earlier order on removing stray dogs from public spaces like hospitals, schools and railway stations.

The Supreme Court said civic authorities may euthanise dangerous stray dogs after veterinary assessment in areas facing serious public safety threats

Supreme Court said that states could not remain passive spectators as right to life with dignity included living free from threat of dog bite attacks, and called for a framework

In yet another incident of stray dog killings, nearly 100 canines were allegedly "poisoned to death" in Mancherial district, police said. An animal welfare activist, A Goutham, in a complaint to police, stated that on the intervening night of March 7-8 around 100 stray dogs were killed in Kishtapur village. The complainant, working as Cruelty Prevention Manager with the Stray Animal Foundation of India (NGO) accused that the Sarpanch and Gram Panchayath Secretary of Kishtapur village, hired two persons and killed the stray dogs by giving poisonous injections and buried them near a river. Based on the complaint, a case was registered under relevant sections of BNS and Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act at Jannaram police station against the Sarpanch and Gram Panchayath, police said, adding that further investigation is on. Several incidents of mass killings of stray dogs were reported from different districts in Telangana in January this year and December last year taking the toll

The Supreme Court also directed the Animal Welfare Board of India to process applications from NGOs seeking permission to set up animal shelters or animal birth control facilities

Nearly 100 stray dogs were allegedly killed in Nagarkurnool district of Telangana, taking the toll to 1,200 in the state since December 2025, animal rights activists claimed. A FIR was registered in connection with the latest incident of alleged culling of canines, against three persons including the son of a village panchayat president (sarpanch), police said on Wednesday. An animal welfare activist M Preethi, in a complaint to police stated that about 100 stray dogs were killed in Thimmaipally village 10 days ago by administering poisonous injections by hiring dog killers for Rs 18,000 and the carcasses were buried two kms away from the village. The complainant, working as Animal Cruelty Prevention Assistant with the Stray Animal Foundation of India (NGO) accused the village 'sarpanch' and Gram Panchayat secretary for the gruesome act. Based on the complaint, a case was registered against the son of the sarpanch for his alleged involvement in the killings besides against panchay

The Supreme Court pulled up states over poor stray dog control, flagging low sterilisation, lack of shelters and rising dog bite cases, while questioning weak data and delayed action

In a fresh incident of alleged stray dogs killing in Telangana, about 300 canines were allegedly killed in Jagtial district, taking the toll to 900, animal rights claimed. The killings are suspected to have been carried out by some elected representatives, including Sarpanchs, allegedly to fulfill promises made to villagers ahead of gram panchayat elections held in December last year, to address the stray dog menace. The latest incident came to light after a complaint was lodged, alleging that 300 stray dogs were killed in Pegadapally village by administering poisonous injections on January 22. Blaming the village Sarpanch and Gram Panchayat secretary for the gruesome act, the complaint alleged that the former hired few individuals to kill the strays. Based on the complaint, police registered an FIR against the duo under relevant sections of BNS and Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, police said on Saturday. Inspector Ch. Kiran said, during the inquest, around 70 to 80 dog ...

In yet another incident of stray dog killings, nearly 100 canines were allegedly "poisoned to death" in Yacharam village near here following which a case was registered against a sarpanch and two others for their alleged involvement in the act, police said on Wednesday. The fresh incident follows killing of nearly 500 stray dogs in different districts of Telangana since January 6. An animal welfare activist, associated with Stray Animal Foundation of India, in a complaint filed with Yacharam Police Station alleged that the dogs were injected with some poisonous substances on January 19. A case was registered under relevant sections of BNS and Prevention of Cruelty of Animals Act against the sarpanch, secretary and ward member of Yacharam gram panchayat on Tuesday, a police official said. As per the complainant, 100 dogs were killed, but based on preliminary investigation and after verifying with villagers around 50 dogs were found to be killed, though further probe is on in this ..

The Supreme Court has adopted a "balanced approach" in its directions on the stray dogs issue which neither disregards the rights of animals nor minimises the legitimate concerns of citizens, a top Law Commission official has said. Effective coordination across municipal bodies, health departments and state authorities will determine whether these judicial directions translate into safer cities and humane, long-term solutions, without slipping into cruelty or chaos, the official underlined. Speaking to PTI, Member Secretary to the 23rd Law Commission Anju Rathi Rana said the Supreme Court's orders in this case reflect a "renewed judicial emphasis" on how India manages stray animals, an issue spanning public health, municipal administration and animal welfare. Rana, a former Union law secretary, noted that after taking suo motu cognisance of escalating dog bite incidents and related risks reported in the media, the top court modified earlier instructions and directed compliance with

In a fresh incident of stray dog killings, around 200 canines were allegedly killed in Telangana's Kamareddy district, taking the toll to about 500 in the last one week, police said on Tuesday. Sources from villages said (some) elected representatives, including sarpanches, allegedly carried out the killings to "fulfill promises made to villagers" during the recent gram panchayat elections to tackle the stray dog menace. Police said a case has been registered against six persons, including five village sarpanches, for their alleged involvement in the incident. Earlier, police in Hanamkonda district had booked nine persons, including two women sarpanches and their husbands, in connection with the alleged killing of around 300 stray dogs in Shayampet and Arepally villages. "Ahead of the gram panchayat elections held in December last year, some candidates promised villagers they would tackle the stray dog and monkey menace. They are now allegedly fulfilling' those promises by killing

The matter was heard on three consecutive days last week, with the court primarily examining the presence of stray dogs in institutional spaces

The villagers said the stray dog population had become a nuisance, especially during the sarpanch election period

The Supreme Court said that it does not want the proceedings to become a contest between animal cruelty claims and stray dog attacks

The Supreme Court flagged rising stray dog attacks, saying dogs can sense fear and attack, adding that even pet dogs may behave the same and asked authorities to act on safety

Whether bitten by a pet or a stray, knowing the right first aid steps can prevent infection and rabies and speed up recovery, say health experts

The Supreme Court flagged rising stray dog attacks and road accidents, blamed civic bodies for poor enforcement of animal birth control (ABC) rules

The Supreme Court on Tuesday took note of the number of interlocutory applications being filed before it in the stray dogs case and said that so many applications normally don't come even in cases of humans. A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta made the observations when two lawyers mentioned the stray dogs matter before it. One of the lawyers said they have filed an interlocutory application in the case. So many applications normally don't even come in cases of humans, Justice Mehta observed. The bench said the stray dogs matter is slated to come up for hearing before the apex court on Wednesday. When another lawyer mentioned a transfer petition in the matter, the top court said many pleas would be taken up for hearing on Wednesday, and the bench will hear all the lawyers. A three-judge special bench comprising Justices Nath, Mehta and N V Anjaria is slated to hear the matter on Wednesday. Taking note of the alarming rise in dog bite incidents within institutional