Sri Lanka can follow Indian example on stray dogs

After a string of stray dog bites, The Indian Supreme Court on August 11, 2025 ordered the removal of all street dogs in Delhi to shelters. The bench comprised of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan , but after public protests, the order was later stayed and modified on August 22, 2025, by a different three-judge bench that included the above-mentioned judges too. 

The earlier ruling was modified and the bench ruled  instead  that dogs must be caught, vaccinated, sterilised and returned to their neighbourhoods - but with a caveat that aggressive dogs and those carrying rabies should be moved to shelters. Justice Vikram Nath, who headed the second bench, joked that “stray dogs have made me famous all over the world.”

This is an enlightened and humane decision in a country where massive poverty can still be seen in the streets. Delhi has an estimated street dog population of approximately one million, though a 2012 census recorded around 60,000, and the Moneycontrol report from August 2025 cited 10 lakh (1 million) based on MCD data. This massive dog population presents a significant challenge for authorities. Delhi’s human population is now over 19 million people.

There are many individuals and organisations involved in animal welfare in India. Like in most countries, the efforts may not be enough to in proportion to the problem, but these efforts are commendable. Actor John Abraham was a key figure in the public protests against the supreme court decision, personally writing a letter to the judges. It is sad that no such public or entertainment figure speaks out on behalf of stray dogs in Sri Lanka. Cruelty against animals is on the rise, and the laws are weak. Legislation should be updated. There are unconfirmed reports that one of the dogs who roam the Vihara Maha Devi park has been killed. The dogs in the park (as all over Colombo and elsewhere) are docile. If any dog is found to be aggressive, it can be removed to a shelter. Killing is not the solution.

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