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Here's how creators are protesting the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on stray dogs!

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Smrithi Mohan
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Creators are questioning the practicality of moving thousands of stray dogs to a shelter that has yet to be built, following the Supreme Court's recent ruling.

It was only recently that the honourable Supreme Court passed its ruling that suggested the removal of stray dogs from the streets of Delhi. The ruling came after reports were filed about children being attacked by canines and the rising rabies toll in the country. It is also a direct response to the long-standing debate regarding the canines. According to the recent SC ruling, authorities are advised to remove thousands of stray dogs and relocate them to a shelter before proper sterilization and vaccination. Justice JB Pardiwala ordered that authorities are supposed to create facilities for stray dogs to be relocated within eight weeks, while making sure to install a CCTV to monitor that they are not released back into the streets.

While the court has justified this move as a way to ensure protection of kids and to control the rising toll of rabies, animal welfare activists and lovers find it inhumane and unscientific. This tug between people trying to protect stray dogs and the ones trying to get rid of them is not new. It has been a conversation that has been going on for ages. While a part of the population considers them as threats, with them raising concerns of being able to move in the streets without the fear of being attacked by them, others consider these stray canines as their family. A large chunk of people dedicate their lives to feeding, nursing and taking care of them as any human being is expected to. 

Various animal welfare activists have also been arguing that the new ruling is a direct violation of the 2023 ABC rules and risks public health. The municipal bodies are mandated to conduct extensive sterilisation and vaccination of the strays, while prohibiting them from permanently relocating them from their original locations as per the ABC Rules, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

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While the new order has been welcomed by many as a great move by the SC, activists and creators can’t help but question the practicality of the same. It’s not hidden that we live in a system that is painstakingly terrible at taking care of the weak and the incapacitated. While the country witnessed a massive protest at India Gate following the ruling, many took to the internet to share their thoughts on the same. Highlighting the discrepencies of the ruling, they talked about the negative impact it will have on stray dogs. Knowing how these creatures, who cannot speak for themselves, will be treated, especially since the court has allowed their removal from every street, one can anticipate the violence that will be inflicted upon them. Debates on how authorities will manage to effortlessly conduct the order, when we live in a system that fails to provide shelter to the homeless, have been doing the rounds. Many also pointed out the ruling as nothing but a statement made in anger - a regressive way to get rid of canines without thinking of how they would be dealt with. 

Apart from the inhumane nature of the ruling, many creators like Dr Cuterus pointed out the health risk that carrying out the order can bring. Sharing a post about how they help maintain the herds immunity, she wrote, "Instead of protecting humans from rabies, removing vaccinated dogs will remove the shield that is keeping us safe." Neha Doodles, on the other hand, talked about how moving the dogs to a shelter feels unfeasiable.

Shray Rai Tiwari, an actor and creator, highlights the seriousness of rabies and the fear that elderly citizens and children often have towards dogs. He questions why this issue is causing division among the people in the country and suggests that it is making them overlook the humanitarian aspects involved. Tiwari argues that there are more pressing matters that need attention than simply removing thousands of dogs from the streets. Meanwhile, Anish Gawade calls the verdict as “a death sentence for every single stray dog on every single street in the national capital.”

As discussions around challenging the verdict continue, many are attempting to reason with the Supreme Court’s argument for public safety. However, many are raising questions about the feasibility, legality, and compassion of this decision. Activists and creators argue that it may do more harm than good, stating that without proper shelters in place and with existing laws prohibiting mass relocations, the order seems rushed and disconnected.

What are your thoughts on the same? Let us know in the comments below.

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stray dogs supreme court's ruling on stray dogs