Former Minister of State and social worker, Vijay Goel said that an order should be placed now in Delhi to remove stray dogs from the streets.
He said, “People have stopped on going walks as they are scared of dogs who are roaming in the streets and can attack on people.”
“The SC has said well that animal lovers should take dogs home if they want to feed them. There should not be feeding in public and those who claim to be animal lovers, should adopt them. The order now should be placed to remove these stray dogs from the streets,” he told Tehelka.
He said that the situation is so bad that there are seven lakh stray dogs while 12 crore in entire nation. “Central government, State government and MCD have to work hard for this. RWA suggest that there should be changes in Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules.”
“Prior to that too, many states including Indore, Haryana have made same statements on the issue but the government has not done anything, it should work,” he added.
The data from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) shows a significant and concerning rise in dog bite cases reported across States and Union Territories from 2022 to January 2025.
In 2022, the total number of cases stood at approximately 21.9 lakh, which surged to over 30.5 lakh in 2023 and further escalated to 37.1 lakh in 2024. As of January 2025 alone, over 4.29 lakh cases have already been reported, indicating a continuing upward trend.
States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, and Karnataka consistently reported the highest number of dog bite incidents, with each recording hundreds of thousands of cases annually.
Notably, Tamil Nadu reported the highest number of cases in 2024 at 4.8 lakh, while even smaller states and UTs like Goa, Puducherry, and Arunachal Pradesh have shown sharp year-on-year increases. Alarmingly, regions like Assam and Odisha witnessed more than quadrupling of cases between 2022 and 2024.
The data highlights the urgent need for comprehensive public health strategies, including mass dog vaccination, awareness programmes, and improved access to post-exposure prophylaxis to address the growing menace of dog bites across the country.
Recently, the Supreme Court has told a Noida resident – who had alleged harassment while feeding stray dogs – to feed them in their own home.
“There is space for these animals… but no space for humans. Should we leave every lane, every road, open for these large-hearted people? Why don’t you feed them in your house,” Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta said on Tuesday.
With this statement, residents of Delhi have come forward to share their thoughts on the matter.
“Concern for human safety is right.. but I don’t think… there is any string attached to the feeding dog and turning them for canine attacks. Why has the government not taken any action,” said Smriti Shrestha, a resident of Delhi’s Jasola area. Meanwhile, Amol, a resident of Noida said, “I agree with the Supreme Court’s statement that morning walkers, cyclists, and two-wheeler riders are at risk due to stray dogs. While feeding community dogs is not wrong, it should be done in designated areas by authorities. One can’t go feeding the dogs and can’t be held responsible in cases of attacks.”
