The Supreme Court last week ordered the removal of stray dogs “forthwith” from public places and relocate them to “a designated shelter, after due sterilization and vaccination in accordance with the animal birth control rules”.A three-judge bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria on November 7 directed that its directions be “implemented uniformly across India” with “status compliance certificates within a period of eight weeks”. It specified that “the stray dogs so picked up shall not be released back to the same location from which they were picked up”.Story continues below this adThe present ruling assumes significance given India’s status as home to one of the world’s largest populations of cats and dogs, thus one of the biggest stray populations on the planet. In a 20-country comparison, India ranked among those with the highest rates of homeless population (69%), matching Greece but just below Indonesia’s 76%. Globally, there are an estimated 155 million homeless dogs and 207 million homeless cats.Here is what to know.Why did the Supreme Court order thus?India’s stray animal crisis has become a serious public health issue. The 2025 report by The State of Pet Homelessness Project estimates that the country has 100.09 million cats and dogs, including 85.61 million dogs and 14.48 million cats.The majority of this population – 71% of India’s dogs and 61% of India’s cats are homeless, according to the report. Among them, around 52.5 million dogs and 8 million cats roam as strays, while 8 million dogs and 800,000 cats live in shelters.The Union Health Ministry recorded 3.7 million dog bite cases in 2024 alone. According to official data, 99% of rabies deaths in India are caused by dog bites. Rabies, if untreated, is nearly always fatal once symptoms appear, leading to either the furious or paralytic forms of the disease.Story continues below this adHow does India presently manage its strays?India’s current legal framework for managing street animals is the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. The rules require local bodies — including municipalities and panchayats — to carry out sterilisation and vaccination programmes for stray dogs and cats through organisations approved by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI).The process must be humane, ensuring no cruelty during capture, surgery, or release. The policy follows the “Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return” (CNVR) method, which prohibits relocating animals outside their original areas to maintain ecological balance and reduce aggression among packs.The rules also outline minimum standards for Animal Birth Control Centres, including adequate kennel capacity and access to veterinary hospitals managed by local authorities or animal welfare groups.We have explained what the Supreme Court has directed in its latest order on November 7 and how this differs from its August 22 interim order here.Story continues below this adHow have other countries dealt with the issue?Across the world, countries have introduced strict legislation and systematic sterilisation programmes to manage stray populations.In Greece, pet owners are legally required to neuter or spay their adult animals or submit a genetic sample to a central database if they refuse. Municipalities are mandated to run operational programmes for capturing, treating, sterilising, registering, and rehoming stray animals. Animals that remain unadopted after three months can be released back into their original areas, provided they are microchipped, registered, and healthy. The Greek government funds these municipal efforts, and non-compliance can lead to state intervention — making the programme one of Europe’s most robust animal welfare systems.Cyprus, meanwhile, enforces its “Dog Law,” which requires all dogs over two months old to be licensed. Local authorities are legally responsible for managing strays. Captured dogs are held for 15 days in a pound, during which owners can reclaim them by paying fines. Unclaimed dogs are either rehomed or, as a last resort, euthanised humanely under veterinary supervision.However, Cyprus lacks a similar law for cats. The island’s feral cat population has exploded, with estimates suggesting one cat per resident. The government’s sterilisation programme — just 2,000 procedures a year on a €100,000 budget— is far too small to make an impact, animal activists warn.Story continues below this adThen there’s the Netherlands, often hailed as the only country with no stray dogs. Its success dates back to 1864, when it founded the Dutch Society for the Protection of Animals, its first voluntary animal protection agency. Today, Dutch cities impose taxes on purchased dogs to encourage adoption, while the government runs a CVNR (Collect, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return) programme to control animal populations and stop diseases like rabies. The Netherlands even has a dedicated animal police force.The writer is an intern with The Indian Express.