Supreme Court Flags Surge in Stray Dog Attack Videos, Weighs Safety vs. Welfare

• Supreme Court notes a rise in online videos showing stray dogs attacking children and elderly, highlighting public safety concerns.
• The Bench, comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria, observed the prevalence of such videos during a hearing.
• Previous court orders mandated vaccination, sterilisation, and release of dogs under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) framework, modifying an earlier directive to shelter dogs.
• The court directed states and NHAI to remove stray animals from highways and educational/healthcare institutions to fence premises to prevent bites.
• Policy suggestions included zoning public spaces, dog-free areas near schools, structured feeding, and time-bound ABC enforcement, with the court cautioning against impractical comparisons.

Why It Matters: Supreme Court grapples with balancing public safety and animal welfare amidst rising stray dog attack concerns.