The Esya Centre has released an issue brief titled Free-Ranging Dogs in India: An Empirical Analysis of Human–Animal Interactions, providing new national-level data on community dog management amid the ongoing debate following recent Supreme Court directives on the removal of stray dogs from Delhi–NCR. Based on a survey of 1,063 respondents across ten Indian cities, the report advocates for humane and evidence-based approaches aligned with public health and ethical obligations.
According to the brief, rabies deaths in India have declined tenfold over the past two decades—from 534 in 2004 to just 54 in 2024—demonstrating the success of Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programmes. Between 2022 and early 2025, only 126 rabies-related deaths were recorded nationwide, while Delhi reported no rabies deaths during this period. The paper emphasizes that these humane programmes have been far more effective than culling in improving both human and animal welfare.
The Esya Centre’s survey found that 73.5% of respondents consider community dogs friendly, while only 10.8% find them aggressive. Nearly 91% said that these dogs deter criminal activity, and 52% felt they help keep women and children safe. About 96% reported feeling safer in their neighborhoods because of community dogs. Over half the respondents also believed that free-ranging dogs help control pests such as rats and monkeys, contributing to cleaner surroundings.
Cultural and ethical factors were also highlighted: 74% of dog feeders said their practice is rooted in religious tradition, reflecting long-standing Hindu beliefs that revere dogs for their loyalty and protective nature. While most feeders do not experience harassment, the report notes that some have faced severe abuse, including threats and physical assault.
The issue brief identifies several policy gaps, including underfunding of ABC programmes, weak veterinary infrastructure, and poor data collection. It recommends reforms such as revising the Animal Bite Reporting Form to distinguish between pet and stray dogs, conducting a dog census for better planning, protecting dog feeders under the law, and involving them in sterilization and vaccination drives. The report also calls for municipal accountability mechanisms that include local oversight and community participation.
Commenting on the findings, Meghna Bal, Director at the Esya Centre, said, “India’s relationship with dogs is as old as civilization itself. They have lived and evolved with us, yet we now face calls to erase them from our cities without understanding the evidence. This report shows that humane, evidence-based programmes like ABC–ARV save lives, strengthen community safety, and reflect our values as a society.”
The Centre cautioned that arbitrary relocation or removal of sterilized dogs, as recently proposed, would violate the Animal Birth Control Rules and global best practices. It urged authorities to focus instead on strengthening humane management systems that balance public health, safety, and animal welfare.
The Esya Centre is a New Delhi-based independent think tank that conducts data-driven research on public policy issues at the intersection of technology, society, and governance. Its work focuses on promoting innovation, inclusion, and evidence-based policymaking in areas such as digital competition, cybersecurity, and internet regulation.
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*Freelance writer
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