Latest: The Supreme Court’s stray-dog verdict and what it actually means — including the 19 May 2026 ruling that ordered one functional ABC centre in every district and a state-by-state compliance check by 17 November 2026, and where the money really goes.
Unfortunate as it is, most of the Indian streets are riled with blatant apathy towards animal lives. The callousness in civic societies is far worse – where a handful of humans who care for the stray animals are often met with unbelievable ridicule and resistance.
It is not that there aren’t animal laws in India – but the ineptness to implement them and the severity of punishment leaves them crippled. Compared to dog custody and welfare laws worldwide, our laws are relatively timid and need a revamp.
It is a fundamental duty upon every citizen of India to protect wildlife and have compassion for all living creatures.
Article 51A(G), Indian Constitution
Here are some laws put forth in the constitution to uphold the rights of the voiceless and activists who work towards animal welfare.
Animal Laws in India to protect stray dogs
Stray dogs are protected under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (PCA), 1960, and rules enacted under Section 38 of the act, particularly, the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 (which replaced the 2001 Rules); the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, Sections 325 and 351 (which replaced IPC Sections 428, 429 and 506 from 1 July 2024); and Article 51A (g) of the Constitution.
- Street dogs cannot be beaten, killed or driven away or displaced or dislocated, they can only be sterilized in the manner envisaged in the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, vaccinated, and then returned back to their original locations. The stray dogs can be sterilized only when they’ve attained the age of at least 4 months and not before that.
- Killing, maiming, poisoning or rendering useless of any animal is punishable by imprisonment for up to two years or with fine or with both, under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, which replaced IPC Section 428 from 1 July 2024.
- As per Section 11 (i) of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (PCA) Act, 1960 abandoning an animal, leaving it in a situation that it suffers pain due to starvation or thirst, is a punishable offence.
- The Delhi High Court states that there are no laws that prohibit people from feeding stray animals. It is a crime to threaten, abuse or harass neighbours who feed animals. (criminal intimidation, now BNS Section 351, formerly IPC Section 506). For the current 2025 rules on where you can feed and what your RWA can and cannot do, read our full guide on feeding stray dogs in India.
See Also: Banned dog breeds in India: what the 2024 list and the courts actually did
Your rights to pet ownership – RWA
Pet ownership comes with a set of responsibilities – not only to the pet but to the neighbours too. RWA can place reasonable requests like – allotting pet corners, defecation rules, asking for regular vaccinations etc. As long as you are not causing a nuisance, you have a right to keep a pet.
RWA cannot ask you to disown your pet.
If you feel threatened or targeted because of keeping a pet – you can do the following:
RWA can’t make laws on their whims to disallow pet companionship.
- Reach out to local SPCA or any other animal welfare organization. They will usually talk to the RWA and make them understand the laws – it should end there. You can also write a letter to municipal corporation.
- You can file a complaint with the nearest local police station under Section 325 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (which replaced IPC Sections 428 and 429) if the RWA is not cooperative.
- You may contact the Animal Welfare Board of India in case your pet or any other animal is under threat.
- You can reach out to Ms Meneka Gandhi. Mention the registered address of the RWA and fax number if any. A letter from official MP letterhead usually knocks some sense into RWAs.
- The Registrar of Societies (RoS) can take action against or even dissolve an RWA for its unwarranted approach towards a pet-owning family.
- Action can be initiated against RWA members under Section 2 (1)(g) of the Consumers Protection Act. (District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum)
Animals laws to protect pets
The Animal Protection (Dogs) Rules, 2001 provide for rules relating to pet and street dogs.
- Keeping, or confining any animal chained for long hours with a heavy chain or chord amounts to cruelty on the animal and punishable by a fine or imprisonment of up to 3 months or both.
- If an owner fails to provide its pet with sufficient food, drink or shelter, he/she shall be liable for punishment according to section 11 (1) (h) of The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960 is a punishable offence.
- Any person who, without any reasonable cause, abandons an animal in such a situation where the animal is bound to suffer pain due to starvation or thirst- Section 11 (i)
- Any owner of an animal who consciously allows an infected, diseased or disabled animal to go into any street without any permit or leave the animal to die in any street- Section 11 (j)
- Any person intimidating another person and preventing him/her, who is the owner of a pet, from keeping or taking care of his/her pet can be held liable under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 (criminal intimidation, which replaced IPC Section 503).
On March 12, 2020, World Animal Protection released the 2nd edition of global Animal Protection Index (API) 2020, where India gained C grade on a scale of A-G.
Adopt, don’t shop!
While societies may have dog lovers, dog haters and those who don’t really care – amicable ways to drive awareness for animal laws can really help bridge the gap. Any aggression or hostility that the dogs may be subjected to, will only render them aggressive, and hostile to humans.
How to use Animal laws?
If you come across a situation that is in violation of animal rights, you can either send a legal notice to the individual/group of animal abusers yourself through a lawyer or report the matter to an NGO which would do that for you. In case no action is being taken by the abuser even after sending the notice, you can file an official complaint.
Here’s a list of NGOs in Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Kolkata and Pune that you may reach out to.
To ensure that authorities actually take action, please seek help from NGOs – many of them have legal outreach and it helps move the machinery. You may also reach out to journalists over social media – similarly politicians or higher authorities (unfortunately that’ how the cookie crumbles sometimes).
Try raising awareness in your neighbourhoods and societies – strays can also be trained to be guard dogs. Along with colony guards, they can provide an additional security cover.
While the severity of punishment(s) is still not that harsh and needs to be revisited real soon, one can hope that animal laws act as a deterrent to those who try to take the law in hand. We hope that awareness regarding these laws would help people to report and stand up for the animals.
With due to respect to dog lovers, I would like to ask everyone, that if a large percentage of the colony feels threatened to step out of the house as there have been numerous episodes of dog biting. What should be done? Is it not a good option to keep the dog feeding areas restricted to some particular zones. Can’t dog lovers love them enough to take some effort in feeding them at right assigned areas. As the dogs have the right to live, so do humans have, so do kids want to play and cycle around. Kindly guide me on this front:
CAN WE HAVE LAWS FOR FEEDING DOGS AT ASSIGNED PLACES??
Is it too much to ask for?
You can politely ask the dog feeders to feed the dogs in assigned areas. That simple. Or speak to the managing committee of your society and the feeders and come to a joint conclusion that is beneficial to both species. Also, stray dogs and cats that are fed regularly and vaccinated are docile and friendly so don’t feel threatened. You may have reasons to feel threatened by them but they have learned to coexist because of the human interaction and care that is being offered by the feeders. And by nature and evolution, dogs and cats have adapted to co-exist with humans. It’s us humans who need to learn to co-exist. There may be times when a dog bites a human but we humans are no less. We poison them, throw stones at them, kick them, and beat pregnant dogs to death, disrespecting them to no end since we’re the more “evolved” species. Hope this answers your question 🙂
I have a pet dog of 8mnths with full vaccination and injections.. The people of our colony n mostly of my building thy are abusing us, my dog, to get my dog away from the colony.. Thy want no shelter to my dog… Thy have uncessary issues.. Help pls
Please go to the local police station and file a complaint. Nobody can abuse/harass you and your pet dog. It is a punishable offense. I don’t see a reason for the harassment. The pet is your family and they cannot be looked down upon. You can file a police complaint for the same. If you need more help please contact People For Animals (NGO) for assistance.
If my dog do potty or urine on road sometimes our colony people abusing me that take the dogs for away from the street. So many local dogs do potty & urine on road people won’t say anything. Why they target to us. Plz clarify the details issue what should I say to them
Hi, I have a 1 yr old male lab puppy with full vaccination, very friendly and playful…if interested pls connect on 9830304313
Can we adopt a pet who is left on the street by previous owner? I found a dog with terrible wounds and nobody taking care of it. After a long struggle with local animal shelter, it’s finally over there for treatment which took 5 days. During these days, I was feeding the dog and also provided medical aid. Once it gets well at shelter, can I keep it with me or not? Thanks
I am resident of Vijay Nagar Delhi. Infront of my house there is a McD park in which small and big stray dogs have been staying since I have come here.As soon as there are puppies. Some unknown people either kill them or steal. Now only few are left who have been vaccinated and sterilized. But the area McD mali residents don’t let the dogs stay in the park. A man from the locality has been given lock and keys to close the park as and when he feels. The dogs are taken out from there at 11Pm. After asking the Mali why government park should be locked.He answered that one of the resident has told him. Why the Mali takes order from them We also give taxes. This it is our right to walk there.Also they can’t throw the dogs out. Infact McD should arrange water bowls,food and medical checkup for the stray dogs.What is the action to it can be done? Going to police or ngos are of no use. I would like to know how can government park be used as private place to play,do yoga.
Hi I am Amrit. I have two pet cats in my house and one of them shouts very loudly . My neighbours complained us about this by saying that “billi ka chilana apshagun hota h hume problem hoti h or aap inhe chord do”.I can’t leave my cats and i will not. So please kindly suggest me how can i handle this situation. Please reply asp.
Send mail to Maneka Mam. She will help you.
Why don’t you Take all the dogs and keep it at n your home, literally we are scared that our children’s may bitten by dog so I think you don’t have child in that case take care all of them in your house as your kids
We are doing as much as possible but why dont u people have kind soul for stray dogs…..? Why people cant read their innocent eyes ……humanity is true worship. …..dont know people will understand.
i need a help guys
coz in my aera so many people try to beat the dog without any reason
Hi I live in pune and my dogs live at farmhouse with my parents someone has bought a big dog and they won’t tie him nor they will keep him in house he has bited my two lovely friendly dogs and they have serious injuries I told owner to atleast tie the dog but they won’t ñow my two of the family members are on the race of life or death i request that you answer my questions I am really sad about it and can’t even help my dog with anything Iwant you help me through out this
One question…
Can stray dogs live in a gated housing society? Many are reporting that the stray living in society is barking on kids and elderly people. It is becoming difficult day by day to use garden and play area by kids. Parents are having fear to send their children to the park.
People are ok with dogs but their number is increasing as well as dogs are becoming aggressive. This is leading to the confrontation between humans & dogs and between humans & humans. People are asking questions like whose life is more important a dog’s or a human’s.
Kindly guide on how to deal with this situation?