From Streets to Shelters? Supreme Court Hits the Brakes on Stray Dog Order in 2025

Stray Dogs

New Delhi | 26 August: In recent weeks, the issue of stray dogs has become one of the most debated topics in India after a series of important Supreme Court orders. At first, the court directed that all stray dogs in Delhi and NCR should be caught and shifted to shelters permanently, warning that anyone who interferes would face strict action. This decision immediately triggered protests from animal rights groups, experts, and citizens who argued that such a move was not only against existing laws but also impossible to carry out humanely. Responding to the backlash, the Supreme Court later paused its earlier order and issued a revised direction: stray dogs must be sterilized, vaccinated, and then released back to their original areas, while aggressive or rabid dogs could be quarantined in shelters. The court also introduced new rules on feeding stray dogs and called for a national policy to manage the issue.

“From Streets to Shelters? SC Hits the Brakes on Stray Dog Order”

What Happened? (Starting from the Beginning)

1. First Order: August 11, 2025

The Supreme Court (by Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan) issued a strong order. They directed that all stray dogs in Delhi and surrounding areas (NCR) must be rounded up within eight weeks and moved permanently to shelters, with no release back to the streets. People or organizations interfering would face strict legal action. (TIME, Indiatimes)

2. Why This Was Rejected / Resisted

The order sparked widespread backlash from animal welfare activists, celebrities, and citizens:
- Critics said it contradicts the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules of 2023, which require sterlisation, vaccination, and returning dogs to their neighborhoods, not confining them indefinitely. (Indiatimes, The Times of India, scobserver.in, The Independent)
- Many pointed out that Delhi has too few shelters (just a few dozen) to house up to 1 million stray dogs, making the plan logistically impossible. (The Independent, Indiatimes)
- Animal rights groups called the move effectively a “death sentence” since shelters are often overcrowded and poorly maintained. (Indiatimes)
- Concerns were also raised about the lack of humane care and the potential suffering of dogs confined in such shelters. (The Independent, scobserver.in)

Supreme Court order stays on Stray Dogs in Shelter home

“From Streets to Shelters? SC Hits the Brakes on Stray Dog Order”

3. Court Stayed (Paused) the August 11 Order

Following legal appeals and criticism, the Supreme Court formation of a larger bench (Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria) reviewed the issue and put a stay (pause) on the original sweeping order. (scobserver.in, The Leaflet, Reuters)

4. Revised / Modified Order

On August 22, 2025, the Supreme Court issued new directions:

Dogs must be:
- Captured humanely
- Sterilized, vaccinated, and dewormed
- Released back to the exact locality where they were found
Exception: Dogs that are aggressive or rabid should not be released and may be quarantined or kept in shelters. (Reuters, AP News, Indiatimes, The Leaflet, The Washington Post)
Feeding rules:
- Public feeding of stray dogs in open streets or roads is prohibited
- Designated feeding zones must be created in each ward by civic bodies
- Notice boards must clearly state that feeding is only allowed in those zones
- Violators can face legal action (The Times of India, The Leaflet, www.ndtv.com)
Uniform National Policy:
- The Supreme Court expanded the case nationwide, requesting a uniform stray dog management policy across India based on the ABC Rules (Indiatimes, The Leaflet, Reuters)
Funding & Infrastructure:
- The Court asked individuals (petitioners) and NGOs involved to contribute funds for infrastructure—₹25,000 per petitioner and ₹2 lakh per NGO—to help improve stray dog facilities. (The Leaflet)

Summary Table

Stage	What the Court Ordered	Issues Raised / Outcome
Aug 11	Move all stray dogs to shelters; no release allowed	Widely criticized as inhumane, impractical, and unscientific
Stay	Legal appeals led to the original order being put on hold	Court re-evaluated based on public and expert feedback
Aug 22	Revise order: sterilise, vaccinate, return dogs; shelters only for rabid/aggressive; feeding rules; national policy; funding mandated	Balanced, humane, scientifically aligned approach

Why the Original Order Was Rejected

Conflict with ABC Rules — these laws already prescribe sterilisation, vaccination, and release—not permanent confinement. (Indiatimes, scobserver.in, The Leaflet)
Insufficient Shelter Capacity — Delhi’s dogs population far outweighs shelter space; odds heavily against humane long-term housing. (The Independent, Indiatimes)
Animal Welfare Concerns — permanent confinement would cause stress, disease, and suffering; shelters are not long-term homes. (The Independent, Indiatimes, scobserver.in)
Public and Legal Pressure — activists, celebrities, and public outcry forced reconsideration. (Indiatimes, Reuters)

If you’d like, I can explain further how these changes affect local authorities or what citizens can do to cooperate under the new rules—just let me know!