A Major Pivot in the Stray Dog Debate

In a notable shift, India’s Supreme Court on August 22, 2025, softened its earlier September 111 directive on Delhi-NCR’s stray dogs; now, only rabid or aggressive animals may be sheltered, while the rest are to be sterilised, vaccinated, and returned to their original spots. This marks a crucial balance between public safety and animal welfare.

Officials, such as Delhi’s Mayor, lauded the ruling, and animal advocates, including Maneka Gandhi, called it a “scientific judgment,” pressing for a precise definition of “aggression” to avoid ambiguity. The court also instructed civic bodies to establish feeding zones in every ward to better manage the animals and prevent them from roaming freely on the streets.

Celebrity attention bolstered public sentiment, with Rupali Ganguly calling the decision “a big win for compassion” and others welcoming it as a humane course correction after widespread backlash over the initial relocation plan.