SC relief sparks joy for dog lovers

Dog lovers, NGOs to deposit money for moving court, amount to be used for creating infra: SC

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Animal lovers broke into celebrations at Jantar Mantar on Friday after the Supreme Court modified its earlier directive on the relocation of stray dogs in DelhiNCR, ruling that only rabid or aggressive dogs may be shifted to shelters.

The three-judge bench said healthy stray dogs should be sterilised, vaccinated and returned to their original locations, in line with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. It also directed civic bodies to create designated feeding areas in every ward, taking into account the concentration of street dogs.

Soon after the pronouncement, activists and caregivers who had gathered in anticipation of the verdict hugged each other and raised celebratory slogans. Some thanked God with "Har Har Mahadev".

Many described the ruling as a "victory" of compassion.

"Now we will not have to send our kids anywhere," said one of the celebrants.