Mumbai: Prominent figures from across the entertainment industry have voiced deep concern following the Supreme Court of India’s recent directive mandating the removal and permanent relocation of all stray dogs from Delhi-NCR to shelters.
Zeenat Aman, veteran actor and animal lover, shared her distress via Instagram Stories, saying:"Disheartened by the recent news about stray dog 'removal' in Delhi. I join animal lovers from across the world in asking for a more humane, logical, and science-backed approach to the issue."
Siddharth Anand also took to his X, “There’s just no compassion left. No compassion.
Who will look after their food there? At least on the streets there are some empathetic humans still who feed these poor voiceless souls. They will die of hunger and thirst there and that’s the death warrant the SC has signed.
There’s just no compassion left. No compassion.
Who will look after their food there? Atleast on the streets there are some empathetic humans still who feed these poor voiceless souls. They will die of hunger and thirst there and that’s the death warrant the SC has signed.… https://t.co/ReXgLghchm
Please someone start a petition and let’s stop this genocide. I’m with you !!!”
Popular TV actress Rupali Ganguly also posted on X,”In our traditions, dogs guard Bhairav Baba’s temple and are fed on Amavasya for blessings. They’ve grown up on our streets, guarding shops, waiting outside our doors, barking away thieves.
In our traditions, dogs guard Bhairav Baba’s temple and are fed on Amavasya for blessings. They’ve grown up on our streets, guarding shops, waiting outside our doors, barking away thieves.
If we remove them now, we risk losing our protectors before the real dangers arrive, like…
Janhvi and Varun Dhawan re-shared a note on their Instagram Stories, criticizing the order. The note mentioned that even though “there are problems,” caging an entire community of animals is not a solution.” The note read: "They call it a menace. We call it a heartbeat. Today, the Supreme Court says - take every stray dog off the streets of Delhi-NCR and lock them away. No sunlight. No freedom. No familiar faces greet every morning."
Actor-comedian Vir Das, who adopted stray dogs a few years ago, urged people to come forward and adopt dogs in Delhi-NCR. "If you are a resident of Delhi. Can I persuade you to adopt an indie off the streets, more than one? They are extremely healthy, low maintenance, and will provide you with more love, affection and gratitude than you could ever imagine," he shared.
In our traditions, dogs guard Bhairav Baba’s temple and are fed on Amavasya for blessings. They’ve grown up on our streets, guarding shops, waiting outside our doors, barking away thieves.
If we remove them now, we risk losing our protectors before the real dangers arrive, like…
"I am also asking you to wholeheartedly and generously support your nearest animal welfare NGO. I plan on doing so, I hope you will too. As appeals are filed in court and processes take their time, it's important for our humanity to kick in immediately. Please do your part, big or small, it all adds up."
If we remove them now, we risk losing our protectors before the real dangers arrive, like silencing an alarm before a fire. Sending them to far-off shelters isn’t kindness, it’s exile.
Stray dogs aren’t outsiders; they’re part of our faith, our culture, our safety. Care for them, vaccinate them, feed them and let them live where they belong. straydogs”.
Actor John Abraham also wrote a letter to Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice B R Gavai, urging a review of the recent Supreme Court's direction in the matter.
Calling the decision ‘inhumane’, an excerpt from his letter read, “It has been widely reported that a recent judgment by the division bench comprising Hon’ble Justice JB Pardiwala and Hon’ble Justice R Mahadevan has directed the removal of all stray dogs in Delhi from public spaces to shelters or far-off areas. I hope you will agree that these are not ‘strays’ but community dogs—respected and loved by many, and very much Delhiites in their own right, having lived in the region as neighbours to humans for generations.”
Bhumi Pednekar posted a Mahatma Gandhi quote on her Instagram stories, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated," read her Instagram story.
Sonakshi Sinha shared, "Day by day we expose how soulless we have become as a society. Every day is a disappointment."
The bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan said that all localities should be made free of stray dogs and there should not be any compromise. It also made it clear that no captured animal will be released back on the streets.The argument for the ruling is based on the rising incidents of dog bites, rabies threat, and ensuring public safety, particularly for children and the elderly. Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Ghaziabad authorities have been asked to carry out relocations within eight weeks, with strict warning against obstruction.
This decision has stirred criticism from animal rights supporters and other personalities, who caution that the decision negates the current 2023 Animal Birth Control Rules mandating vaccination and sterilization, and enabling healthy dogs to go back to their localities.
