Stray Dogs

Nearly 100 stray dogs 'poisoned' to death near Hyderabad, case booked

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 ..

SC order balances approach on stray dogs, says Law Commission official

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

Poll promises turn deadly: 500 stray dogs killed in Telangana in a week

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

Will impose heavy compensation on states for every dog bite case: SC

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

300 stray dogs killed in Telangana, police register case against 9

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

Lot of videos of dogs attacking elderly, kids: SC to animal rights group

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

'Dogs attack when they sense fear': SC raises alarm over 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

Dog bite first aid: What to do in the first 15 minutes to prevent rabies

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

People dying due to stray dog attacks, rules poorly enforced: Supreme Court

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

Stray dogs case: SC says more pleas filed than even human matters

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

Dog lovers protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar against SC order on strays

Animal rights activists and volunteers from various animal protection groups gathered for a peaceful demonstration at the Jantar Mantar on Saturday, demanding the Supreme Court reconsider its recent order to remove street dogs from public spaces. The protest, held ahead of a hearing on the matter in the top court next week, saw around 30 participants holding placards with creative visuals to highlight their concerns, with one wearing a dog costume to draw public attention, the organisers said. One of the participants termed the Supreme Court order to relocate street dogs from schools, hospitals and transport hubs both impractical and inhumane, which will result in millions of dogs getting confined to shelters for life. On November 7, 2025, the Supreme Court ordered to remove all stray dogs from railway stations, schools, hospitals, bus stops and other public areas, and relocate them to a designated shelter after due sterilisation and vaccination in accordance with the Animal Birth .

Governors' powers to stray dogs: Supreme Court's defining calls of 2025

From constitutional limits on Governors to arbitration clarity, minority rights, environmental protection and public safety, these Supreme Court rulings shaped governance and daily life in 2025

Rabies fear in UP: Can milk from infected animal transmit the deadly virus?

A suspected rabies case in a buffalo sent panic through a UP village, with hundreds rushing for vaccines after learning funeral raita was made from its milk. But was the fear justified?

Delhi govt asks schools to appoint nodal officers for stray dog matters

The Delhi government has directed educational institutions, including schools, to nominate nodal officers for matters related to stray dogs and submit their details to the Directorate of Education. Teachers' associations, however, have opposed the move, questioning why departments responsible for animal welfare are not handling the issue. In a circular, the Directorate of Education's (DoE's) Caretaking Branch said district education officers (DDEs) must compile details of nodal officers, including name, designation, contact number and email ID for all schools, stadiums and sports complexes under their jurisdiction and send the consolidated information to the directorate. The DoE stated that replies being received from individual schools were not required, and clarified that only district-level compiled reports would be accepted. The information will be forwarded to the office of the Delhi chief secretary. Nodal officers will act as the point of contact for stray dog-related issues,

Stray dogs case: Supreme Court to take up matter again on January 7

Responding to a petitioner in the stray dogs case who objected to some rules framed by the Delhi municipal corporation saying "inhuman" treatment was being meted out to them, the Supreme Court on Thursday said a video will be played in the next hearing, "asking you what is humanity". Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is appearing in the stray dogs case, told a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta that a three-judge special bench which was scheduled to assemble on Thursday to hear the matter was cancelled. "It will come on January 7," Justice Nath said. Sibal said, "The problem is that the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), in the meantime, has framed some rules which are completely contrary". When the bench said it would consider the matter on January 7, Sibal said the authorities will implement the rules in December itself. "They will be implementing it and they will be removing the dogs. They don't have shelters," he said. Justice Nath said, "It is alright Mr Sibal.

Over 128K people bitten by stray dogs in Mumbai in 2024: Eknath Shinde

More than 1.28 lakh people in Mumbai were bitten by stray dogs in 2024, raising concerns about the safety of citizens and prompting authorities to undertake measures like sterilisation and vaccination of free-roaming canines to control their population. This information was shared by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in the state legislative council on Friday in a written reply to queries by MLCs Sunil Shinde, Vasant Khandelwal, Sandip Joshi and others. These legislators raised concerns about the increasing number of stray dogs in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) limits and a similar menace in Nagpur. Shinde stated that more than 9,400 people were bitten in Nagpur, the second capital of Maharashtra, in 2024. He said that a survey conducted by the BMC via Human Society International, as per the Animal Welfare Board rules, revealed that the number of stray dogs had come down from 95,172 in 2014 to 90,757 in 2024. In Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) limits, 9,427 peop

Maharashtra recorded over 3 million dog bite cases in 6 yrs: Eknath Shinde

Maharashtra recorded more than 30 lakh cases of dog bites in the last six years, while 30 persons died of rabies between 2021 and 2023, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde informed the state assembly on Wednesday. Local bodies have been directed to intensify animal birth control and anti-rabies vaccination programmes, he said in a written reply. Shinde was responding to a question by Shiv Sena (UBT) legislator Sunil Prabhu, amid concerns over the rising number of stray dogs, especially in major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur and Kalyan-Dombivli. The deputy CM said there has been a significant increase in dog bite incidents in both rural and urban areas. "Maharashtra has recorded more than 30 lakh cases of dog bites in the last six years, while 30 persons died of rabies between 2021 and 2023," he said. Replying to another query, Shinde said local bodies have been directed to intensify animal birth control and anti-rabies vaccination programmes in accordance with the Supreme Court

Karnataka announces ₹5 lakh relief for fatal dog-bite victims' families

According to the new directive, the families of individuals who die due to dog bites will receive ₹5 lakh as compensation from the state government

Nearly 525,000 dog bite cases, 28 deaths due to rabies in TN: Chidambaram

Chidambaram emphasised that dog lovers' concerns are valid, but they must also acknowledge the gravity of the situation

Animal lovers protest against SC's order to relocate stray dogs in Delhi

For the second consecutive day, animal lovers held a protest outside the Jhandewalan Mandir in the national capital on Saturday, demanding the withdrawal of the Supreme Court order directing authorities to shift stray dogs from public areas to designated shelters. The Supreme Court, citing a rise in dog-bite cases in institutional zones such as schools, hospitals and railway stations, has instructed civic bodies and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to relocate stray dogs and cattle from these spaces and along highways. Dozens of protesters carrying placards and banners assembled peacefully near the temple, expressing concern over the welfare of street dogs. Animal caregiver Ritika Sharma, who participated in the demonstration, said that the decision was "deeply unfair" and ignored ground realities. "There aren't enough proper shelters or trained staff to care for so many animals. Moving them from their familiar places will only increase their suffering. They need ...