The Supreme Court (SC) issued an order on Monday to relocate all stray dogs from the streets to shelters in Delhi-NCR, which has faced significant criticism from numerous animal rights activists. They argue that the order lacks careful consideration and is arbitrary, referencing stray dog management strategies used in both Indian cities and abroad.

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In New York City (NYC), USA, community dogs are primarily managed by Animal Care Centres (ACC), which is a non-profit organization.  The organisation keeps dogs in shelters while searching for homes for them, and does not return them to the streets. Dogs that remain unadopted for a specified period are euthanized.

Since 2018, Singapore has been implementing the Trap-Neuter-Rehome/Release-Manage (TNRM) programme.  The Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS), a government agency, primarily carries this out. They are the first to respond to matters involving stray dogs.  This programme entails capturing stray dogs, sterilising and vaccinating them against infectious diseases, and microchipping them for traceability.  After that, they are either placed in new homes or let go in appropriate areas.

In London, England, local authorities are responsible for managing stray dogs and offering a dog warden service.  It is a legal requirement to microchip all pet dogs older than eight weeks.  The microchips can be linked to the owner’s contact information and stored in national databases.  It is a legal requirement for the district authorities in London to collect any reported stray dogs, attempt to locate and reach out to their owners, and retain them for seven days if no owner can be identified.  If an owner cannot be located for seven days, appropriate dogs are rehomed.  Dogs that are unsuitable and cannot be rehomed are put to sleep.

Turkish municipalities are required to put dogs in shelters and to euthanise those that are terminally ill or pose a danger to people.  In May, Turkey’s highest legal authority, the Constitutional Court, ruled that the provisions are legally valid and that their implementation will proceed.

“The methods applied in Western countries cannot be implemented here due to the lack of a suitable budget and sufficient qualified personnel resources.  Asher Jesudoss, who serves on the executive committee of the Delhi Animal Welfare Board, stated, “We should keep adhering to the ABC rules and establish monitoring committees at both local and state levels.”

The management strategies for stray dogs in India are primarily founded on the revised Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023 issued by the central government.  These regulations require municipal authorities to systematically sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs and release them, with a strong focus on preventing rabies.

One of the remarkable measures taken is the strict rule enforcement in Uttar Pradesh, where uncontrolled feeding in public areas has been banned under the Municipal Corporation Act.  In a similar vein, Kerala has set up special monitoring committees to supervise the implementation of ABC in light of a recent surge in stray dog attacks.

Mumbai has taken a balanced approach.  Although it is legal and protected by law to feed street dogs and cats, feeders must do so only in designated clean areas, away from children’s zones and public pathways.  The feed should be hygienic, avoiding raw meat and leftover food.  Additionally, feeders assist in the sterilization and vaccination of animals.

In June 2025, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation released a set of guidelines that stated: “Harassing citizens for feeding street dogs and cats, henceforth referred to as ‘Community Animals’, is a punishable offence.  Community animals refer to street animals, particularly those in the local area.  Our nation supports the principles of ahimsa and non-violence, which have historically allowed for peaceful coexistence between humans and animals.  Furthermore, the obligation to show compassion toward all living beings is a basic duty…

Rule 20 of the ABC Rules designates residents’ welfare associations to manage community feeding complaints, but enforcement is difficult due to the absence of penalty provisions.