Save the Dogs!
To
The Hon’ble Chief Justice of India
Supreme Court of India
Tilak Marg, New Delhi – 110001
Respected Hon’ble Chief Justice,
The recent ruling directing the removal and sheltering of all street dogs could unintentionally increase public health risks. Removing these animals entirely has historically led to rodent surges and disease outbreaks — such as the plague in Surat in 1994, and similar rat infestations in Baltimore after cat removals. In Delhi, the absence of dogs could also lead to a rise in monkey incursions.
Capturing millions of dogs will take years, during which time remaining animals will breed and migrate from neighbouring areas. Even after removal, without long-term preventive measures, numbers will rebound.
The costs of feeding, housing, and maintaining sanitation for millions of dogs in shelters could exceed ₹7,000–₹10,000 crore annually.
A more workable solution could be to create pounds for aggressive or dangerous dogs while continuing mass sterilisation and vaccination for the rest — an approach endorsed by the World Health Organization and proven in Jaipur’s ABC program, which nearly eliminated rabies without mass culling.
Respectfully,
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