Supreme Court Clarifies Stance on Stray Dogs: 'Dogs Can Smell Fear', Rules Must Be Followed
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The Supreme Court of India has clarified its stance on stray dogs, stating that they can 'smell' fear in humans and may attack. However, the top court emphasized that it has not directed the removal of every stray dog from the streets. The court is hearing a suo motu case on stray dog bites and rabies cases, particularly among children, in the national capital. A three-judge bench, led by Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria, clarified that the directive is to treat stray dogs according to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. The court heard submissions from several lawyers, including senior advocates C U Singh, Krishnan Venugopal, and Dhruv Mehta, who argued that the removal of stray dogs would lead to an increase in the rodent population. Justice Mehta observed, 'Dogs and cats are natural enemies; cats kill rodents. So, we should promote more cats.' The bench also clarified that it is not under pressure to resolve the issue and that the implementation of the ABC Rules is essential. The court asked lawyers to review a media report on stray dogs hunting down a rare species in Ladakh and come prepared with suggestions on how to address the issue. The hearing in the matter will continue on Friday. The Supreme Court's clarification on stray dogs has sparked debate on the issue, with many calling for a more humane approach to addressing the problem.
