Animal Lovers Protest in Pune Over Supreme Court Orders on Stray Dog Management
Pune, 5th January 2026: Around 500 animal lovers and concerned citizens held a peaceful protest in Pune on Sunday against recent Supreme Court directions related to community (stray) dogs, calling the move unjust, unscientific and contrary to existing animal protection laws.
The protest march began at Chhatrapti Sambhaji Park on Jangli Maharaj Road and concluded at Goodluck Chowk on Fergusson College Road. Participants included animal welfare volunteers, residents, families with children and members of the general public.
The Pune demonstration was part of a coordinated nationwide protest, with similar gatherings reported in several cities across India. Protesters said the mobilisation was inspired by the historic “Do or Die” call, symbolising unity, non-violence and civic resistance. The collective demand was for evidence-based, lawful and humane policies for the management of community dogs.
Veterinarians, public health experts, scientists and animal behaviour specialists associated with the movement cautioned that mass removal and confinement of community dogs is not supported by science. They argued that such measures could weaken rabies-control efforts, disrupt urban ecological balance and disproportionately impact low-income and underserved communities.
Experts reiterated that Animal Birth Control with Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ABC-ARV or CNVR) remains the legally mandated and globally accepted method for rabies control. According to them, this programme has not been implemented at the required scale in most states. They cited affidavits submitted by state governments indicating coverage far below international standards, stating that the issue lies in poor implementation rather than in the policy or scientific framework itself.
The protest remained peaceful throughout, with participants holding placards and raising slogans advocating compassion, coexistence, constitutional values and adherence to scientific and legal safeguards for animals.
Key demands raised during the protest included an immediate stay on directions mandating mass removal and confinement of community dogs, meaningful hearings before the Supreme Court involving subject-matter experts, and a return to evidence-based governance with adequate funding, monitoring and lawful implementation of ABC-ARV programmes.
Organisers clarified that the protest was not against public safety but aimed at strengthening it through science-driven policy, accountability and humane practices. They said the Pune protest reflected growing public concern over decisions affecting community animals and their wider social and constitutional implications.
The protest was organised by animal lovers and concerned citizens of Pune.
