The court had ordered all strays to be rounded up and confined to shelters—warning of penalties for non-compliance. But the ruling triggered nationwide outrage, with animal welfare groups, citizens, and celebrities condemning the move as cruel and impractical, given the absence of adequate shelters.
Responding to the backlash, the court issued a revised ruling on August 22, allowing stray dogs to be sterilised, vaccinated, and released back into their original neighborhoods—except in cases where they show aggression or rabies symptoms. The bench also introduced designated feeding zones and called for a national stray dog policy, noting that India is home to a staggering 52.5 million stray dogs, with nearly 1 million in Delhi alone.
The decision has been widely welcomed. Randeep Hooda hailed it as a humane correction, Arjun Bijlani called it a balanced step that protects both people and animals, while Rupali Ganguly urged collaboration between the government, NGOs, and citizens. Across India, communities are adapting: dog feeders in Mysuru have begun planning for structured feeding, while in Ranchi, an eight-year-old girl offered a ritual thanksgiving for the verdict.
Meanwhile, Kerala has pushed forward with building a multi-specialty veterinary hospital and sterilisation centre in Thiruvananthapuram, highlighting the need for infrastructure to make the court’s vision a reality.
The ruling marks a turning point in India’s long-running stray dog debate—balancing compassion with public safety, and transforming an initial wave of anger into cautious hope for a more humane policy nationwide.
