‘Not scientific…’: PETA opposes Supreme Court’s order on Delhi stray dogs

PETA India also called for the beginning of an effective dog sterilisation program

The Supreme Court’s order to remove all stray dogs from Delhi and the adjoining NCR has drawn sharp criticism from animal welfare groups, with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India cautioning that the move is both “unscientific” and “ineffective”.

The top court on Monday directed the Delhi government and civic bodies in Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad to start picking up strays from all localities at the earliest and keep them at dog shelters.

PETA India's senior director of veterinary affairs, Dr Mini Aravindan, issued a statement questioning the effectiveness of mass removal.

"Communities think of neighbourhood dogs as family, and the displacement and jailing of dogs is not scientific and has NEVER worked. Per a population survey conducted in 2022-23, Delhi has around 10 lakh community dogs, with less than half sterilised. Forced removal of some 10 lakh community dogs from Delhi's streets will cause uproar in communities that care deeply for them and chaos and suffering for the dogs on a large scale. It will also ultimately do nothing to curb the dog population, reduce rabies or prevent dog bite incidents. This is because it is unfeasible to build enough dog shelters…," the statement read.

PETA India also called for the beginning of an effective dog sterilisation program.

“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,” the NGO stated.

Other important efforts would include a closure of illegal pet shops and breeders that contribute to animal abandonment, and encouraging the public to take in a dog in need from an animal shelter or the street, the statement read.

While issuing a series of directions to address the growing menace of dog bite incidents, the Supreme Court warned that strict action would be taken against any individual or organisation obstructing the authorities from picking up stray dogs.

The bench, comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan, further clarified that while it would hear arguments from the Centre, petitions from dog lovers or other parties on the matter would not be entertained.

"We are issuing these directions keeping larger public interest in mind,” the bench said, adding that infants, young children should not at any cost fall prey to stray dog bites leading to rabies.