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Stray dogs in India: the ABC Rules 2023, the Supreme Court’s 2026 ruling, and what to do after a dog bite
The law on stray dogs changed on 19 May 2026, when the Supreme Court gave its final judgment in the stray dogs case. Much of what is written online predates it. This page sets out what the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 require, what the judgment changed, what residents and housing societies may and may not do, how to treat a dog bite, and who to call in Ahmedabad. Every statement carries its source.
What changed in 2026
The Supreme Court’s final judgment, in plain words
The case began on 28 July 2025, when the Court took up a newspaper report on dog bites of its own motion (In Re: “City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price”, Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) 5 of 2025). After interim orders on 11 August, 22 August and 7 November 2025, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N.V. Anjaria gave the final judgment on 19 May 2026.
The ABC Rules still apply
In ordinary neighbourhoods the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 remain the governing framework: dogs are sterilised, vaccinated and returned to the locality they came from.
Removed, and not returned
Stray dogs are to be removed from schools, colleges, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations, sterilised and vaccinated, and moved to shelters. They are not released back to those premises. The Court upheld its 7 November 2025 directions on this.
Only three categories, only by authorities
Rabid dogs, incurably ill dogs and demonstrably dangerous or aggressive dogs — after assessment by qualified veterinarians, by the competent authority, in line with the law. The judgment gives no permission for private action.
Designated spots only
Feeding stray dogs on streets and in public places is not permitted except at feeding spots designated by the municipality or housing society.
An ABC centre in every district
Every state must run at least one functional Animal Birth Control centre per district and keep adequate stocks of anti-rabies vaccine and immunoglobulin. High Courts are to monitor compliance.
The High Court is monitoring
The Gujarat High Court opened its own case (WPPIL 28 of 2026). At an August 2026 hearing the State reported 23 ABC centres across 16 districts, two of them in Ahmedabad, as reported by LiveLaw.
The rules
The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, rule by rule
Notified as G.S.R. 193(E) on 10 March 2023 under section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, replacing the Animal Birth Control (Dog) Rules, 2001.
| Rule | What it says |
|---|---|
| 3 and 5 | A sterilisation programme may be run only by the local authority’s own veterinary staff or by an organisation recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India, and a project recognition certificate from the Board is mandatory either way. |
| 8(2) | For street animals, the local authority — the municipal corporation, panchayat or cantonment board — is responsible for sterilisation, immunisation and deworming. |
| 9 | Monitoring committees at central, state and local level. |
| 11(5) | Catching dogs with tongs or wires is strictly prohibited; nets or hands must be used. |
| 11(15) | Sterilisation surgery and vaccination must be done by a veterinarian. |
| 11(16) | A V-shaped notch is made on the right ear during surgery, so a sterilised dog can be recognised. |
| 11(19) | Dogs are released at the same place or locality they were caught from, after full recovery, with the date, time and place recorded. Since May 2026 this does not extend to institutional premises (see above). |
| 15 | Euthanasia only of incurably ill or mortally wounded dogs, by a qualified veterinarian. Now read with the 2026 judgment, which adds rabid and demonstrably dangerous dogs. |
| 16 | Complaints about dog bites or rabid dogs: a suspected rabid dog is caught humanely and observed at an ABC centre. Death from rabies normally occurs within ten days; a dog that does not have rabies is released after ten days of observation. |
| 20 | Resident welfare and apartment owner associations must arrange feeding of community animals at agreed spots away from children’s play areas, entry and exit points and staircases, at times that avoid children and senior citizens. Disputes go to an Animal Welfare Committee. |
For residents and housing societies
What you can and cannot do about stray dogs
You can
Report a dog to the municipality. In Ahmedabad, complaints go to the Municipal Corporation’s Cattle Nuisance Control Department through the civic helpline (numbers below). The local authority is legally responsible for sterilisation and vaccination.
Ask your society to designate a feeding spot. Rule 20 puts this duty on the resident welfare association, and the Supreme Court has confined feeding to designated spots.
Check whether a dog is already sterilised. Look for the V-shaped notch on the right ear.
Report injured animals to the 1962 animal ambulance.
You cannot
Relocate a dog yourself, or ask a private person to take it away. Removal is for the competent authority, and only in the cases the law allows.
Harm, poison or kill a dog, or catch one with wires or tongs. These are criminal offences and cruelty under the law.
Feed on the street or in public places outside designated spots, since the Supreme Court’s 22 August 2025 order, upheld in May 2026.
Feed inside hospitals, schools or similar premises without the institution’s arrangement. The 2026 judgment requires organisations that feed on such premises to accept liability for bites.
Health
What to do after a dog bite
Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal. It is also almost entirely preventable if treatment starts promptly after a bite. Do not wait to see whether the dog falls ill.
Wash the wound at once
Wash with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes (World Health Organization). This is the single most effective first step.
Go to a government health facility the same day
Anti-rabies vaccine and serum are provided free at government facilities under the National Free Drug Initiative. The doctor will classify the exposure and decide the treatment.
Complete the whole vaccine course
Intramuscular schedule: days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 28. Intradermal schedule: days 0, 3, 7 and 28. Missing later doses leaves the course incomplete.
| Category | Type of contact | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| I | Touching or feeding the animal; licks on unbroken skin | No treatment needed |
| II | Nibbling of uncovered skin; minor scratches without bleeding | Wound washing and vaccine |
| III | Bites or scratches that break the skin; licks on broken skin; saliva on eyes, mouth or other mucous membranes | Wound washing, vaccine and rabies immunoglobulin infiltrated into the wound |
Ahmedabad
Who to call
AMC helpline 155303
Toll-free 1800 233 2330. Complaints about stray dogs go to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Cattle Nuisance Control Department.
1962 animal ambulance
Karuna Animal Ambulance, run by EMRI Green Health Services with the Gujarat Animal Husbandry Department. Free emergency care for injured animals and birds; hours vary by district. It is not a human-bite helpline.
Nearest government facility
Go the same day to the nearest government hospital or urban health centre for vaccine. For a medical emergency call 108.
Our work
Where Scapex Foundation fits
Animal welfare is part of our Scapex Samaj division. We do not catch or relocate dogs: under Rule 3 that is for the local authority and organisations recognised by the Animal Welfare Board of India. Our role is to support sterilisation and anti-rabies vaccination drives run with those partners, to help housing societies set up Rule 20 feeding arrangements, and to spread bite first-aid and vaccination awareness. Our other environment pages cover rainwater harvesting in Gujarat and Van Mahotsav and India’s forest cover. See our animal welfare work on the home page.
Questions
Frequently asked questions about stray dogs
In an ordinary residential area, no: under Rule 11(19) of the ABC Rules, 2023 a dog is sterilised, vaccinated and returned to the locality it came from. Since the Supreme Court’s 19 May 2026 judgment, dogs on institutional premises such as schools, hospitals, colleges, sports complexes, bus stands and railway stations are removed to shelters and not returned there. Removal is always done by the competent authority, never by residents.
Only at designated feeding spots. The Supreme Court barred feeding on streets and in public places on 22 August 2025 and upheld this in May 2026. Rule 20 of the ABC Rules makes resident welfare and apartment owner associations responsible for agreeing feeding spots away from children’s play areas, entrances and staircases.
The May 2026 judgment allows euthanasia of rabid, incurably ill and demonstrably dangerous or aggressive dogs, after assessment by qualified veterinarians and by the competent authority, following the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act and the ABC Rules. It does not allow any private person to harm or kill a dog.
Wash the wound with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes, then go the same day to a government health facility, where anti-rabies vaccine is free. Bites that break the skin also need rabies immunoglobulin. Complete every dose of the vaccine course.
Look for a V-shaped notch on the right ear. Rule 11(16) of the ABC Rules, 2023 requires it to be made during sterilisation surgery.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s civic helpline, 155303 or toll-free 1800 233 2330. Stray dogs are handled by its Cattle Nuisance Control Department. For an injured animal, call 1962.