Vijay Goel welcomes SC’s stand on stray dog issue

Former Union Minister Vijay Goel on Monday welcomed the Supreme Court’s stand on the stray dog issue. The court on Monday directed states to comply with its August 22 directive mandating the sterilisation, deworming, and immunisation of stray dogs under the animal birth control (ABC) Rules, 2023, framed under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. 

Mr. Goel, who has been campaigning on the issue for years said, “There are over 12 crore stray dogs in the country, and over 10 lakh in Delhi alone. Nearly 50 lakh people are bitten every year. Mere sterilisation will not solve the problem. These dogs must be moved to proper shelter homes, as earlier directed by two Supreme Court benches.”

Mr. Goel pointed out that the Supreme Court noted only three states and UTs have filed compliance reports, while all others have failed to do so. The top court ordered the Chief Secretaries of all States and Union Territories, barring West Bengal and Telangana, to appear before it on November 3. He said, “This is not just a health and safety issue; it affects our economy, tourism, and the international image of India. Governments must act now, or the Court will have to act even more firmly.”