Chennai: Animal lovers and rights activists staged a protest rally in Egmore, Chennai, on Sunday against the Supreme Court’s directive to relocate all stray dogs in Delhi-NCR to shelters within 8 weeks.

The rally began at Rajarathinam Stadium and ended near a private hotel, with participants marching alongside their pet dogs and carrying placards demanding withdrawal of the order. Protesters chanted slogans against what they described as an “inhumane” directive, arguing that moving nearly 1 million stray dogs into shelters would amount to cruelty and deprive them of their natural habitat.

“The court is treating stray dogs as a nuisance instead of recognising them as part of our shared environment,” one activist told reporters.

The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of a rise in dog-bite cases, including the recent death of a six-year-old in Delhi following a stray dog attack. During hearings, the court said urgent action was needed and ordered sterilisation along with relocation of the animals to shelters.

Sunday’s demonstrators, however, stressed that the solution lay in scientific sterilisation drives, community awareness and stricter enforcement of pet ownership rules. They argued that mass relocation would strain resources and sever bonds between communities and the dogs they often care for.

Placards read: “Shelters are not homes” and “Strays are community responsibility, not criminals.” Many participants said the directive ignored the emotional bond citizens share with community dogs and warned that enforcing it could spark public resentment rather than relief.

Activists urged authorities to adopt a humane approach that balances safety with animal welfare. They demanded that the Supreme Court withdraw the relocation order and instead direct governments to expand sterilisation and vaccination programmes.

“The answer is not to lock them away but to manage their population responsibly and compassionately,” a protester said. “India must lead with empathy in addressing its stray dog challenge.”

The rally concluded peacefully, though organisers vowed to continue their campaign until the court reconsiders its decision.

 

IANS inputs