India rethinks removal of thousands of stray dogs in Delhi amid outcry
The chief justice of India’s top court will reconsider the order to remove stray dogs from the capital, criticised by activists as ‘impractical’
A Supreme Court order to remove all stray dogs from the streets of New Delhi has sparked an uproar, with dog lovers and animal activists criticising the move, while those who have come under attack from the animals welcomed the decision.
There are an estimated 800,000 stray dogs in the Indian capital and so far this year at least 26,000 cases of dog bites have been reported, according to SK Yadav, a civic official in charge of the local government’s animal welfare programme.
The Indian street dog is mostly a distinct native breed known as the Indian pariah or desi dog. They can be seen everywhere – outside homes and markets.
They usually mark out a territory, are fed by the local community and act as night guards, announcing the arrival of strangers.
But the stray dog population across India has been growing rapidly, along with cases of dog bites and rabies, despite a programme to neuter and vaccinate the animals.
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India’s Supreme Court orders removal of 60,000 stray dogs from Delhi