‘Not scientific, never worked’: PETA opposes Supreme Court order to move Delhi NCR stray dogs to shelters

Displacement will ultimately do nothing to curb the dog population, reduce rabies or prevent dog bite incidents, says PETA.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | August 11, 2025 03:55 PM IST

2 min read

Earlier, the Supreme Court directed the Delhi Government, civic bodies, and authorities of Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad to pick up stray dogs and move them to shelters. (File Photo)

Communities think of neighbourhood dogs as family, and displacement and jailing of dogs is not scientific and has never worked, said PETA India, after the Supreme Court Monday directed the Delhi Government, civic bodies, and authorities of Noida, Gurgaon, and Ghaziabad to pick up stray dogs and move them to shelters.

“According to a population survey conducted in 2022–23, Delhi has around 10 lakh community dogs, with less than half sterilised. Forced removal … will cause uproar in communities that care deeply for them. It will also ultimately do nothing to curb the dog population, reduce rabies or prevent dog bite incidents,” PETA added.

PETA India said it was not feasible to build enough shelters and displacement could cause fights over territory.

“That’s why, the government has required that community dogs be sterilised since 2001 — a procedure which calms them — and during which they are also vaccinated against rabies,” it said.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court called the “situation” arising out of the menace of stray dogs “grim” and said “immediate steps need to be taken” to address it. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan asked the authorities, including the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC), to build shelters and report about the creation of infrastructure to the court within eight weeks.

The bench said the first shelter, for 5,000-6,000 dogs, should be ready in six weeks and that dogs picked up should not be released into public places. It ordered that the centres be monitored by CCTV to ensure no dogs are taken out.

“Had the Delhi government implemented an effective dog sterilisation program, there would hardly be any dogs on the road today, but it would not be too late to start implementing an effective sterilisation program now. Instead of wasting time, effort, and public resources on ineffective and inhumane displacement drives, an effective sterilisation program is still the solution and urgent need, PETA said, urging the closure of illegal pet shops and breeders and encouraging adoption.

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