Supreme Court: Don't cuff stray dogs, just follow ABC rules; 'dogs can sense fear, attack if scared

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu) : The Supreme Court, expressing serious concern over the increasing number of stray dog ​​attacks and dog bites across the country, issued a stern warning to municipal corporations and state governments. The court clearly stated that Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules are not being properly implemented at the ground level, resulting in widespread public suffering.

The Supreme Court clarified that it had not ordered the removal of all dogs from the streets, but rather directed that these stray dogs be treated in accordance with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules. A three-judge bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria heard the case. According to a Bar & Bench report, the judges shared their personal experiences and made a humorous yet serious observation. The bench said, "A dog always senses a person who is afraid of dogs. As soon as it senses that the person in front of it is scared, it attacks. We are saying this from our personal experience." The bench further said, "Stop shaking your head... If dogs sense that you are scared, the chances of an attack increase significantly. Even your pet dog can do this."

The court clarified that the issue is not about eliminating dogs, but about properly enforcing the law to ensure both human safety and the well-being of animals. Senior lawyers appearing in the case made several important points. They said that dogs are very territorial, changing their territory every 200-300 meters. Establishing feeding points in the wrong places increases fighting among dogs and conflicts with humans. Senior advocate Nakul Devan said during the hearing that this problem cannot be solved overnight. He said, "We need to slow down the growth of community dogs."

Microchipping was suggested, but the court asked whether it was being implemented compulsorily for pet dogs. Complaints were raised about the lack of ABC centers in many places, budget problems and negligence of municipal bodies. The danger of increasing the number of rats due to the sudden removal of dogs was also mentioned. During this, the court asked a sarcastic question, “You tell us how many dogs should roam in the corridors of the hospital?” The court said that the real problem is that the existing ABC rules are not being followed strictly. The court's emphasis is on controlling the number of stray dogs in a humane manner through vaccination and sterilization, and not on weakening the rules.