One of the many ongoing dramas in India is the saga of our street animals. They’re basically everywhere, and so are our opinions about them. Some love them. Some fear them. But at the end of the day, don’t we all just want the same thing— happy people and animals, chill streets, zero awkward encounters? Somewhere between wanting and doing, we get stuck. We hope for change, but hesitate at the effort it requires. So the cycle continues: concern, debate, silence, repeat. Our guess is, at this rate, the streeties will start holding meetings and submitting proposals before we take some serious action.

Thankfully, many NGOs, concerned individuals, and even government bodies are stepping in — running sterilisation and vaccination drives, rescuing injured animals/strays, managing feeding zones, and trying to create some sense of order in the middle of it all. But, is this the beginning of real change, or is this simply the same story with new characters?

From ABC Rules to Supreme Court Orders

For over two decades, policies around stray dogs have been written, rewritten, and refined — each promising a world where we don’t have to choose between feeding them and fearing them. Let’s look at the players behind these promises and see if they’ve made any real difference.

Stray Policies

Animal Welfare Board of India

The Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) was set up in 1962 under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960. And its role is to push for humane treatment of animals and advise the government on welfare laws. Over the years, it’s been the go-to for everything from street dogs to circus horses.

  • Reviewing animal welfare laws
  • Promoting shelters and veterinary care
  • Helping build public awareness around humane treatment
  • Setting the standards for how animals are treated across sectors — from street animals to performing animals
  • Nudging implementation of animal welfare laws
  • Recognising animal welfare organisations
  • Approving Animal Birth Control (ABC) projects
  • Providing financial assistance for on-ground work
  • Facilitating systems for reporting animal cruelty

And here’s what AWBI has actually managed to pull off. It has recognised over 3,800 animal welfare organisations across the country. In 2023–24 alone, it distributed over ₹4.5 crore in grants to NGOs, animal welfare organizations, and Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for treatment, shelters, and infrastructure. It also keeps tabs on 6 registered circuses and monitors the welfare of 6,326 race horses.

ABC Approach

The ABC approach (Animal Birth Control) in India isn’t just a policy — it’s a systematic way of managing stray animal populations without killing them. It focuses on sterilisation, vaccination, and releasing dogs back to the same territory instead of removal or culling.

And here’s the behind-the-scenes bit. The Centre defines how ABC should work, AWBI sets the standards and approves agencies, local governments organise and fund it, and NGOs carry out the actual work on the ground. It’s kind of like a relay race where everyone runs their leg.

And here’s how.

In Nagpur, NGO Rise For Tails has performed over 5,000 sterilisation surgeries and treated more than 10,000 animals, building a complete welfare network. In Lucknow, a government-NGO (Humane World for Animals India) partnership crossed 100,000 sterilised dogs—84% of the city’s strays now vaccinated, thanks to active community support. These success stories prove ABC works beautifully when consistent funding, dedicated teams, and local participation come together.

Supreme Court of India

India’s stray dogs have made their way to the highest court in the land. More than once.

Over the past few months, the Supreme Court of India has shifted its stance on stray dogs multiple times, trying to strike a balance between public safety and animal welfare. Here’s a quick summary of their ruling trail:

  • July 2025: Court stepped in amid rising dog-bite and rabies concerns
  • Aug 11, 2025: Ordered complete removal of stray dogs from streets (no return)
  • Aug 22, 2025: Revised stance and allowed return of sterilised & vaccinated dogs (ABC approach)
  • Nov 2025: Introduced “no-return zones” to sensitive areas (schools, hospitals, stations, bus depot, etc.)

Even after all those rulings, so many questions still hang in the air. Where did the strays go? Did they end up in proper shelters or just somewhere else? And the real question—did anyone on ground even bother following these orders properly?

Stray With Us on This One

Animal Welfare

Amid all these questions are the animals who continue to suffer in silence. After so many years, so many agencies, and so many policies, the ordeal of strays remains largely unchanged. But, choosing to see the glass as half full, we can only hope the situation improves soon, so we can all feel safe and coexist more peacefully, while working towards a greener, more eco-friendly, and sustainable future for generations to come.

Organisations like World For All Animal Care, Youth Organization in Defence of Animals (YODA), and People for Animals (PFA) are doing fabulous work—rescuing strays, providing medical care, rehabilitating injured animals, and running ABC drives across the country. They’ve shown us what’s possible. Your turn to show up.

Drop the names of NGOs and individuals working in this space in the comments. And if you have answers to some of the questions we couldn’t quite figure out, leave those below, too—we’d love to learn from you. Share this within your network so more compassionate people can join in and help build a world that is kinder—for both humans and animals.

References:

  1. https://wellbeingintl.org/the-indian-supreme-court-acts-on-the-stray-dog-issue/
  2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/city-to-get-first-animal-crematorium-in-midc-hingna-rise-for-tails-ngo-to-launch-electric-eco-compliant-facility/articleshow/125332375.cms
  3. https://www.humaneworld.org/india/en/news/india-lucknow-milestone-dog-mural-coexistence-sterilization
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