New Delhi/IBNS: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has called the Supreme Court order to relocate Delhi-NCR stray dogs to shelters "unscientific" and called for an "urgent effective sterilisation programme".

In a long statement, PETA India said, "Communities think of neighbourhood dogs as family, and the displacement and jailing of dogs is not scientific and has NEVER worked. Per a population survey conducted in 2022–23, Delhi has around 10 lakh community dogs, with less than half sterilised. Forced removal of some 10 lakh community dogs from Delhi’s streets will cause uproar in communities that care deeply for them and chaos and suffering for the dogs on a large scale.

"It will also ultimately do nothing to curb the dog population, reduce rabies or prevent dog bite incidents. This is because it is unfeasible to build enough dog shelters and displacing dogs causes fights over territory and problems like starvation. Ultimately, dogs make their way back into the same territories, especially when puppies continue to be born. That’s why, the government has required that community dogs be sterilised since 2001—a procedure which calms them—and during which time they are also vaccinated against rabies."

It added, "Had the Delhi government implemented an effective dog sterilisation program (programme), there would hardly be any dogs on the road today, but it would not be too late to start implementing an effective sterilisation program now. Instead of wasting time, effort, and public resources on ineffective and inhumane displacement drives, an effective sterilisation program is still the solution and urgent need.

"Other important efforts would include a closure of illegal pet shops and breeders that contribute to animal abandonment, and encouraging the public to take in a dog in need from an animal shelter or the street."

The top court on Monday ruled that all stray dogs from the residential localities will have to be shifted to the shelters within eight weeks and any organisation attempting to block it will face the strictest punishment.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan passed the order while hearing the matter after taking note of a news report on deaths due to rabies following dog bites.

The court said it will only hear the Centre's argument and not from any dog lover or a third party in the case.

"We are not doing this for us, it is for the public interest. So, no sentiments of any nature should be involved. Action should be taken at the earliest," Justice Pardiwala said as quoted by NDTV.

"Pick up dogs from all localities and shift them to shelters. For the time being, forget the rules."

The court has ordered the Delhi government, the civic body MCD and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to pick up all stray dogs from residential areas, colonies of Delhi-NCR and place them in shelters.

An adoption of the stray dogs has also been barred by the top court.

The civic authorities in Delhi-NCR have been asked to set up dog shelters, relocate the stray dogs, depute professionals who can tackle, sterilise and immunise the dogs.

The court has asked the civic authorities to give an update on the steps they take.

When Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was asked about his opinion on the matter, he told the court that a site in Delhi was selected for relocation of the stray dogs but the plan was stalled after the animal rights activists obtained a stay order.

"All these animal activists, will they be able to bring back those who have fallen prey to rabies? We need to make streets absolutely free of stray dogs," the bench said as quoted by the broadcaster.

From January to June this year, over 35,000 animal bite incidents have been reported from Delhi-NCR.

As per the official data produced by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), 49 cases of rabies have been reported in the same period, reports said.

Angry judgments are never sensible: Maneka Gandhi reacts to the order

Animal rights activist and former Union Minister Maneka Gandhi on Monday called the Supreme Court order on stray dogs a 'strange judgment'.

Reacting to the decision, she said the judgment has been given by someone who is in 'anger'.

Gandhi told ANI, "It is not a doable order... This is a very strange judgment given by someone who is in anger. Angry judgments are never sensible..."

She says, "... There is no single government-run shelter in Delhi. In how many shelters would you put 3 lakh dogs? You don't even have one. To make those shelters, you have to spend at least Rs 15 thousand crore...

"You'll have to find 3000 places for shelters in places where no one lives. How will you find these many places?... This can't be done in two months... You'll have to employ 1.5 lakh people to just be sanitation workers, which will again cost crores..."