India’s Supreme Court has ordered the removal of tens of thousands of stray dogs from Delhi and its surrounding suburbs, citing rising public safety concerns after a spike in dog bite cases and rabies-related deaths.

Delhi, home to around 30 million people, has long struggled with its stray dog population. Official figures from the 2012 Livestock Census recorded 60,000 strays in the capital, but locals say the real number today is far higher. Packs of dogs can be seen roaming parks, markets, and residential areas, sometimes fiercely territorial.

The World Health Organization reports that India accounts for more than one-third of the world’s rabies deaths, a crisis worsened by limited sterilisation programs and strict anti-culling laws. In 2024 alone, government data recorded 3.7 million dog bite cases nationwide and 54 suspected human rabies deaths. Some estimates suggest the real figures could be nearly double, with Delhi alone seeing roughly 2,000 dog bites daily.

The Supreme Court’s ruling directs authorities to:

Capture and shelter stray dogs within eight weeks.

Keep daily records of captured animals.

Ensure no strays are released back into the streets.

Set up a 24-hour helpline for dog bite reports.

Publicise where anti-rabies vaccines can be found.

The court also warned that animal activists who attempt to block dog removals could face legal action.

This decision has stirred mixed emotions. In many middle-class neighborhoods, locals feed and care for community dogs, even dressing them in jackets during winter. Yet at the same time, there is deep concern over frequent attacks, especially against children and the elderly, which are regularly reported in Indian media.

With public safety and animal welfare in delicate balance, Delhi now faces the difficult task of removing thousands of dogs from its streets, without sparking an even bigger public debate.