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If you are a resident of Delhi or nearby areas, you have likely seen stray dogs all around, resting close to shopping areas, hanging out near trash, or following people on their evening strolls. However, changes may be on the horizon. On August 11, 2025, the Supreme Court made a significant decision regarding this issue, instructing Delhi and its neighboring towns to capture all stray dogs within two months, keep them in shelters permanently, and quickly expand shelter facilities. The reason behind this action? The city experiences about 30,000 dog bite incidents every year, and rabies, a serious but preventable illness, continues to take lives, particularly among those who have trouble seeking prompt medical care. This new directive goes against the current Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which dictate that healthy street dogs should be captured, sterilized, vaccinated, and then returned to their original locations. These regulations even prohibit the permanent relocation or confinement of healthy dogs unless they are rabid, incurably sick, or deemed dangerously aggressive by a veterinarian. The issue arises because sterilization efforts have been inconsistent and slow, seldom reaching the 70% coverage required to reduce dog populations effectively.

Furthermore, aside from the legal and management conflicts, the reality of dog bites is glaringly evident in hospital emergency departments. The increasing number of stray dogs contributes to a rise in bite incidences, and for medical professionals, the discussion about catching, sterilizing, or permanently impounding dogs poses a significant public health concern. "Currently, we handle 40 to 50 animal bite cases every month, with most being from stray dogs," states Dr. Anurag Aggarwal, Director & HOD, Emergency Medicine & Trauma at Fortis Hospital in Noida. "Many of these cases are severe enough to need urgent medical care and post-exposure treatment."

Category I: Touching or feeding animals, or being licked on unbroken skin – No treatment is necessary.
Category II: Minor scratches or light nibbling on unbroken skin – Vaccine is needed.
Category III: Serious bites, wounds, or exposure of mucous membranes – Vaccine and immunoglobulin are necessary.
Categories II and III bites – These involve skin breaks and pose a rabies risk, making them the most frequent types. With many victims being children under 15, the risks extend beyond just the bite itself.

"Kids often get bitten on their face or arms, increasing the chance of rabies transmission. They also may not know how to respond to an aggressive dog, meaning they can't defend themselves as effectively as adults can," Dr. Aggarwal explains. The doctor adds that there has been a steady increase in cases, especially during the rainy season when stray dog activity escalates. Rabies is nearly always fatal once symptoms develop, but it can be completely prevented with timely treatment. Rabies is a dangerous illness caused by a virus from the Lyssavirus group in the Rhabdoviridae family, which spreads through the bite or scratch of an infected animal, commonly dogs.

It affects the brain and nerves. The initial signs may resemble the flu, including fever, headaches, and tiredness, but as the illness progresses, it could also lead to feelings of anxiety, confusion, trouble swallowing, too much saliva, seeing things that aren’t there, and even loss of movement. Once these signs show up, rabies is nearly always deadly. The risk lies in delaying treatment. “We still encounter patients who arrive late or don’t complete their vaccination course. This is highly dangerous, as missing even one dose can be the difference between survival and death,” explains Dr. Aggarwal. For treatment, after coming into contact with an infected animal, there is an anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) and rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) that will be given based on how serious the bite is.

Regardless of whether the Supreme Court's ruling withstands legal disputes, the health dangers from dog bites and rabies are very real.

Here’s what doctors recommend you do:

Get medical help right away after any bite, no matter how small it appears. Don't wait to find out if it “will heal by itself.” Clean the injury thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Begin the rabies vaccination series as soon as possible and ensure you finish all doses. Consult your doctor about RIG (rabies immunoglobulin) for bites that are high-risk, particularly on the face, head, or neck. RIG should be injected into and near the wound for the best results. RIG works best within 7 days of the first dose of the rabies vaccine. After this time, the vaccine itself becomes enough to create antibodies, making RIG not needed. Teach kids how to act around dogs, preventing them from teasing, reaching out while the dog is eating, or approaching unfamiliar dogs.

India still faces one of the highest rates of rabies in the world. Experts suggest that in addition to legal and administrative actions, community vaccination efforts for both humans and dogs, stronger public education campaigns, and improved access to post-bite care in government clinics are necessary. Access to rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) in India continues to be a problem, especially in rural regions. Dr. Neha Rastogi Panda, Consultant-Infectious Diseases at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram, noted, “Although rabies vaccines are available, RIG is expensive and often in limited supply. Human rabies immunoglobulin (HRIG) is especially pricey, while equine rabies immunoglobulin (ERIG) is a less expensive option but still hard to find.”

“There is an urgent need for better public understanding. People need to realize that rabies can be prevented, but only if you respond quickly,” Dr. Aggarwal emphasizes. Currently, Delhi is waiting to see if the Supreme Court's decision results in fewer dogs on the streets and fewer bites treated in emergency rooms. Until then, the best way to protect against rabies remains taking quick action rather than merely hoping for the best.