New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard heated arguments in the ongoing case concerning stray dogs and cattle, as the bench deliberated on safety concerns and humane treatment of animals on public streets and highways.

A three-judge bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath, Justice Sandeep Mehta, and Justice N.V. Anjaria engaged with senior advocates representing both petitioners and animal welfare NGOs, raising questions about the challenges posed by stray animals to public safety.

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Empathy vs. Safety

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the petitioners, argued that treating animals with empathy could prevent attacks. “If you treat animals with empathy, they won’t attack. If you invade their space, they will attack,” Sibal said, highlighting the need for a compassionate approach to street animals.

However, Justice Nath questioned the practicality of this approach, noting the unpredictability of stray dogs. “It’s not just about biting, but the threat they pose. How can you identify which dog is in what mood in the morning? You don’t know,” he remarked.

Sibal suggested a solution for unruly dogs: they could be reported to designated centres, sterilized, and then released back to the streets, aligning with the Court’s earlier directives.

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Animal Welfare Concerns

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing several animal welfare NGOs, highlighted the widespread cruelty and harassment faced by dogs and their caregivers. He noted that women feeding stray dogs often face physical attacks. “Women are ferociously attacked, beaten. Protect us. Dogs are sentient beings. Dogs have been poisoned, beaten, suffocated,” Gonsalves told the Court.

He also raised a disturbing issue: the sexual abuse of dogs by humans, calling it a common practice in some areas. He emphasized that most Indians feel safer with stray dogs, as they provide security during nighttime.

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Court’s Past Directives

The Supreme Court has been active in regulating the treatment of strays:

• On November 7, 2025, the Court directed that stray dogs be removed from institutional premises such as schools, hospitals, bus stands, and sports complexes, and relocated to designated shelters after sterilization and vaccination.
• On August 22, 2025, the Court softened its earlier blanket order, allowing strays to be released back to their habitats after sterilization and immunization, responding to backlash from animal lovers.

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The case continues to highlight the delicate balance between public safety and animal welfare, with the Supreme Court weighing practical concerns against the need to protect stray animals from abuse and neglect.

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