Those who feed street dogs should take them home, says Supreme Court

New Delhi – “When a nine-year-old child is attacked by stray dogs, who is responsible ? The people who feed them ? Or should society simply look away ?” the Supreme Court asked while hearing petitions related to stray dogs. The Court then made a clear observation: “Those who say, ‘We feed the dogs’, should take them into their own homes.”

“Those who feed stray dogs should take them home.”

Compensation for deaths or injuries from dog bites will be recovered from the government.

The Supreme Court of India has echoed what common citizens feel; stop romanticising the menace.

Public safety comes first. India now… https://t.co/AswMxRgIhB pic.twitter.com/hKEcGPyNga

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) January 13, 2026

The Bench further questioned, “Why are these dogs roaming on the streets, spreading filth, biting people and creating fear ? The Government is doing nothing.” It added that responsibility must be fixed on those who claim to be caretakers of the dogs.

Government to be made liable for dog-bite deaths and injuries

The Supreme Court said that for every death or injury of a child or an elderly person caused by a dog bite, “we will impose heavy compensation on the State Government.” The Court made it clear that accountability could not be avoided when citizens’ lives were at risk.

Dogs carry a deadly virus

The Court observed that dogs carry “a particular virus for which there is no treatment.” Referring to Ranthambore National Park, the Bench said that tigers bitten by dogs had been infected with an incurable disease.

Do not glorify dogs, warns Court

During the hearing on 9 January, lawyers appearing for actress Sharmila Tagore submitted that not all dogs were aggressive. They cited the example of a dog named Goldy at AIIMS, New Delhi, claiming it had never bitten anyone.

The Supreme Court strongly reprimanded the lawyers and said that they should “not try to portray dogs as good or great.”

Editorial Perspective

The Supreme Court has voiced exactly what ordinary citizens feel. Many believe that the Court should now go a step further and ensure that a clear law is enacted on this issue.