ED VoxPop is where we ask people different survey questions and get responses to conduct a sort of poll of our own.
India’s streets have long echoed with the pitter-patter of stray dogs; by some estimates, around a million roam Delhi alone, forming an unofficial, furry community woven into the urban tapestry. But when a child’s life was tragically taken by rabies after a dog bite, the Supreme Court sprang into action.
In a sweeping August 11 ruling, it ordered authorities across Delhi-NCR to round up all stray dogs, sterilise, vaccinate, and permanently confine them in new shelters under CCTV watch, within eight weeks.
What followed stirred widespread dissent. In cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Dhanbad, dog lovers, pet parents, rescuers, and community feeders took to the streets in the name of compassion.
Protests erupted, with posters proclaiming, “Earth Is For Everyone” and “Fear Divides, Compassion Unites.” For many, this order wasn’t just impractical; it was heartless and defied the humane path outlined by India’s Animal Birth Control Rules.
We asked Gen Z about the solution to the stray dog biting menace. Here’s what they said:
Also Read: How Have Major Cities In The World Handled Their Stray Dog Issue
What we’re watching unfold is more than a clash over public health; it’s a raw confrontation between systemic failure and ethical urgency. The judgment might sound decisive on paper, but critics argue it glosses over the ground realities: overcrowded shelters, astronomical costs, and the emotional trauma of uprooting animals embedded in community life.
Animal rights groups warn that this “remove-all” mandate may backfire, fueling chaos, not control, and highlight that proven, humane alternatives like sterilisation, vaccination, and awareness are being sidelined.
As activists and everyday citizens rally across the country, the fight has become symbolic: can we protect public safety without eroding empathy? Or will this judgment etch a new norm, where quick fixes override the delicate social bonds between humans and urban animals? The answer may well define the character of Indian civic life in the years to come.
Sources: Contributors’ Opinion
Find the blogger: Katyayani Joshi
This post is tagged under: stray dog menace, dog bite cases, street dog attacks, animal control india, public safety issue, dog population control, rabies awareness, india civic issues, urban safety, stray dog management, animal birth control, dog menace india, street dog problem, civic sense india, community safety
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