India's complex relationship with its street dogs has escalated from local concern to a national legal and ethical battleground. The core of the issue, as highlighted by former SEBI chairman D R Mehta in a recent opinion piece, is not an absence of law but a profound failure in its application. The existing legal framework, if implemented with compassion and scientific rigor, holds the key to a humane resolution.
The Judicial Intervention and a Constitutional Question
In an unusual move, the Indian Supreme Court recently took suo motu cognizance of the street dog matter based on a newspaper report. Without a full hearing, it initially directed that all street dogs be picked up and confined in pounds. This order, estimated to cost thousands of crores of rupees and deemed impractical to execute within months, raised significant concerns.
Fortunately, a new bench was constituted to review the matter. The episode also spotlighted the principle of separation of powers. Under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, the Animal Welfare Board (AWB) is the designated executive authority for guidelines on animal management. The appropriate course, as argued, would be for the Supreme Court to direct the AWB to revise its guidelines, balancing human needs with the constitutional fundamental duty of compassion, rather than acting as the board itself.
The Proven, Lawful Solution: Capture-Sterilise-Vaccinate-Release
The tragedy is that India already has a clear, evidence-based national protocol enshrined in law: the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, updated in 2023. This Capture-Sterilise-Vaccinate-Release (CSVR) model is backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) as the only sustainable method to control dog populations and prevent rabies.
Contrary to popular belief, mass removal or culling is counterproductive. It creates ecological "vacuum zones" that are quickly filled by new, unsterilised dogs from surrounding areas, perpetuating a cycle of conflict. No country has successfully managed street dogs through detention, but several have succeeded through science.
Global Models of Success: From France to the Netherlands
France transformed its urban dog crisis in the 1980s through municipal-led coordination of mandatory registration, sterilization incentives, strict anti-abandonment laws, and waste management. Public education was key. The Netherlands achieved an even more remarkable feat: becoming the first country in the world with zero stray dogs without killing a single one. They achieved this through a nationally implemented CSVR programme—the very model India has in its law—supported by government funding, public education, and strict penalties for abandonment.
In India, cities that have consistently implemented the ABC programme have seen dog populations stabilize and decline. This demonstrates that the argument for CSVR is not merely sentimental but rooted in successful scientific achievement.
Ground Realities: The Harsh Truth About Dog Pounds
Drawing from three decades of experience with a municipal dog pound in Jodhpur, Mehta describes a grim reality. Most dogs in such facilities died within weeks or months due to starvation and a lack of medical care, making these pounds a "veritable hell" and effectively a death warrant. There were also concerns about the misuse of municipal funds and the absence of sanctioned staff. This experience suggests that expanding the pound system is not a solution but a pathway to greater suffering.
Most dog bites are linked to hunger, disturbance, or provocation. Well-fed, sterilized dogs are typically non-aggressive. A microscopic minority that are genuinely vicious can be handled separately. It's also noted that poor- and lower-middle-class communities often care for local dogs, which serve as unpaid guards, while the primary conflict frequently originates with urban elites.
The path forward requires moving beyond fear and impractical solutions. It demands the rational, humane, and full implementation of the existing ABC law, learning from global successes, and fostering a culture of co-existence and responsibility. As Mehta concludes, dogs, known as man's best friend, deserve to be dealt with not through phobia but through reason and compassion.
