Overview
- Demonstrations were held in Mumbai, Pune, Bhopal and Sagar where activists, feeders and residents opposed the November 7 interim order on removing community dogs from institutions.
- Youth Congress members rallied at Mumbai’s Shivaji Park urging the court to withdraw the directive and pursue sterilisation, vaccination and no-relocation measures.
- The Supreme Court order instructs fencing of campuses, relocation of dogs to designated shelters after sterilisation and vaccination, appointment of nodal officers and submission of compliance reports.
- Animal-welfare groups say relocation conflicts with the Animal Birth Control Rules, is impractical given limited capacity and funding, and risks trauma and territorial conflict among dogs.
- Protesters pressed for alternatives including mass sterilisation and vaccination, enforcement against cruelty and illegal breeding, microchipping and licensing, and they sought a hearing on January 16.