Animal lovers hold candle march in Mumbai to protest Supreme Court order on stray dogs

Despite the rain, Mumbai’s animal lovers came together to raise their voice for stray dogs.

A large number of animal lovers participated in a candle march at Lokhandwala Circle in Mumbai's Andheri West on Sunday to protest against the Supreme Court's August 11 order directing all stray dogs in the National Capital Region to be taken to shelter homes.

The order has sparked protests across various cities.

IN PHOTOS: From Kandivali to Parel, Mumbai sees heavy Sunday rain as IMD issues orange alert

5 months agoPHOTO GALLERY

The Pal Foundation, along with Mumbai's animal lovers, organised the candle march, which saw participation from film artists, doctors, entrepreneurs and social workers in solidarity with stray animals.

Protesters demanded that the government properly implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules. They also claimed that authorities lack sufficient space, funds and staff to accommodate dogs in shelters.

Roshan Pathak, Animal Rights Advisor, Pal Foundation, said, "The court order is wrong. Animal lovers are not satisfied with this order. And if the Maharashtra government decides to implement the order, we will not let it be implemented. The government and the municipal corporation should focus on sterilisation, vaccination and rabies instead of relocating strays."

Pathak added that action should first be taken against municipal officials who neglect sterilisation and vaccination programmes.

"The government should make the city crime-free, not animal-free. The government has a lot to do, but they are after animals because they cannot speak. We animal lovers will not let any rules regarding shelter and relocation be implemented in Maharashtra. If this happens, animal lovers will come out on the streets in large numbers," he said.