Context: The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) has released a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for the removal, care, and long-term management of stray dogs from public institutional premises. The step follows a Supreme Court directive mandating a uniform protocol to address rising dog–human conflicts in urban centres.
Why the SOP Was Issued: Supreme Court Concern
The Supreme Court recently ordered Delhi–NCR authorities to permanently remove stray dogs from institutional premises following a surge in child dog-bite incidents. The order underscored the need for statutory compliance, humane management, and scientific population control.
Menace of Stray Dogs in India
- India has an estimated 52.5 million stray dogs, but only 8 million are sheltered.
- Delhi alone may have nearly 1 million stray dogs.
- India recorded 3.7 million dog-bite cases (2024).
- Rabies causes approximately 20,000 deaths annually.
Key SOP Provisions
1. Shelter and Care Standards
- Sterilisation & Vaccination: All captured dogs must undergo CNVR (Catch–Neuter–Vaccinate–Release/Shelter).
- Prescribed Space: Minimum 70×40 ft area per 100 dogs to avoid overcrowding.
- Facility Requirements: Mandatory veterinary staff, isolation wards, CCTV monitoring, and six-foot high fencing.
- Feeding Norms: Weight-based feeding—e.g., 100–150 g for 5 kg dogs and 400–600 g for 20 kg dogs, served 2–3 times daily.
2. Operational Protocols
- Institutional Shelters: Institutions with over 2 acres of land and ≥ 6,000 sq ft free space may build their own shelters at their expense.
- 24×7 Helpline: Authorities must respond to reported dog sightings within four hours.
- Waste Management: Municipal bodies must create closed waste pits near markets and regulate garbage disposal.
Legal and Constitutional Framework
- Article 51A(g): Citizens’ duty to show compassion toward living beings.
- Article 21: SC extended the right to life to animals (Jallikattu ruling, 2014).
- Articles 243W & 246: Local bodies’ responsibility for animal population control.
- IPC Sections 428–429 / BNS Section 325: Penalise cruelty, poisoning, or killing of animals.
- PCA Act, 1960: Mandates humane treatment; empowers AWBI to issue rules.
- ABC Rules, 2023: Enforce CNVR, 100% anti-rabies vaccination, and structured public feeding norms under Rule 20.
Reasons Behind India’s Stray Dog Crisis
Administrative & Policy Issues
- Low sterilisation coverage under ABC programmes.
- Judicial inconsistencies in High Court rulings impede standardised enforcement.
- Fragmented institutional roles among municipalities, NGOs, and veterinary departments.
Socio-Environmental Drivers
- Unmanaged waste provides abundant food, sustaining large stray populations.
- Territorial aggression increases when feeding zones are unregulated (Delhi HC observation).
- Community conflicts: Feeder–resident disputes disrupt humane regulation.
- Scarcity-driven aggression: Reduced waste, as seen in Indore, escalates attacks.
About the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI)
- Statutory Body: Formed in 1962 under Section 4 of the PCA Act, 1960.
- Mandate: Prevent animal cruelty, advise governments, and enforce welfare standards.
- Composition: 28 members with three-year terms; headquarters at Ballabhgarh, Haryana.
- First Chairperson: Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale.