Bengaluru: Stray dogs removed from schools, hospitals, transport hubs or other institutional areas across India should be compulsorily provided lifetime shelter, compulsory sterilisation, detailed feeds and hygiene standards as part of standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) in line with Supreme Court directions.
The care protocol bans releasing stray dogs back into the locality where they were picked up from. The dogs must be shifted only to registered shelters run by municipalities or NGOs, and not to private facilities.
The SOPs, which apply to all states and Union territories and for immediate action, were issued after activists expressed concerns about how stray dogs will be treated in the shelter homes.
All removed dogs will undergo compulsory sterilisation, with male dogs and puppies above six months getting priority. After surgery, they will receive annual anti-rabies vaccinations for at least five years or until protective immunity is confirmed.
Each care facility must include kennels, night shelters, open enclosures, a 6-ft boundary fence, water points, and 24×7 staffing, including cleaners, caretakers, a watchman, and a recordkeeper.
The protocols prescribe detailed feeding norms for every age group to ensure nutritional adequacy. While newborn puppies up to two months must be given four to six small meals a day, adult dogs are to be fed twice a day.
The SOPs say schools, hospitals, railway stations, sports complexes, tourist sites, and religious places must install 6ft fencing, appoint nodal officers, and coordinate with municipal bodies for immediate removal and transfer to shelters. Municipal bodies must conduct daily garbage clearance and enforce rules to ensure dogs are not fed near vendor areas.
The care mandate follows Supreme Court’s Nov 2025 directions in a case that flagged rising dog-bite incidents and asked for a uniform national protocol to prevent stray dog presence in institutional zones. The court is monitoring compliance, and district magistrates will submit periodic reports to AWBI.
Source:- The Times of India
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