To cage is inhuman; to co-exist is divine, canine, say speakers as community dogs and controversy sizzle in the city
(From left) Dr Anjali Chhabria, Nandita Saigal, and Dr Sweta Singh at the Mumbai Press Club on Monday. PIC/SHADAB KHAN
Jeev Sabha, a group of at least five Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), legal experts, animal rights advocates, and activists, held a press conference on Monday afternoon at the Press Club, Azad Maidan, after the Supreme Court order on stray dogs.
In its November 2025 verdict, the Supreme Court, taking note of rising dog bite incidents, issued orders directing the immediate removal of stray dogs from public institutions for sterilisation and relocation to shelters. This has ignited protests from animal activists who say shelters are ‘inhumane confinement’. ‘No shelters for dogs; instead, catch, vaccinate, sterilise and release,’ was Jeev Sabha’s message.
The challenge
Speaker Nandita Saigal, a retired animal welfare officer, stated, “We are gathered here because India is facing a preventable public health and governance challenge. A lot of fear and confusion is leading to rising conflict centred around community dogs.” Dr Anjali Chhabria, a well-known psychiatrist and founder of Jeev Sabha, pointed out, “There is no dispute that rabies is a serious disease. But is it a national health crisis? The crisis really is fear and misinformation.”
Vaccine scene
Dr Sweta Singh, associate consultant, Critical Care Medicine, Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, said, “Rabies prevention is non-negotiable. Vaccinating dogs is nipping the problem at the source.” Incidentally, the vaccination has efficacy for one year, after which the dog has to be revaccinated. “People also must go in for anti-rabies injections when advised, post scratch or bite, as delay greatly increases risk.” Panellist Indraneel Roy, a government animal welfare officer, spoke about ‘open garbage’, which means an uncontrolled food supply for the dogs. “We need better waste management,” he said.
On the issue of feeding the strays, Dhiraj Tejwani, CEO, Youth Organization in Defence of Animals, said, “Our feeders are often threatened; this stems from ignorance. If animals are not fed, there is a chance of greater aggression.”
A collective
Rhea Chhabria, founder of Pawdopt, emphasised the ‘collective’. “Every citizen is a stakeholder here. This cannot be left to the civic authorities/government/animal activists. We need citizens who contribute by not buying unvaccinated puppies sold illegally or from unlicensed backyard breeders. There must be awareness of that. A vaccinated community animal cannot give rabies.”
The in-depth discussion concluded with speaker Sanhita (first name only), who called herself a “citizen, part of the collective effort”. “The narrative will change if animal welfare is not looked at as charity but as an industry,” she signed off saying. This meant that unpaid, under-recognised work by citizens, veterinarians, caregivers, and rescue workers must stop.
The takeaways
This was not a “human vs animal issue”. Jeev Sabha is not against the government. Mass anti-rabies vaccination breaks rabies transmission. It was about preventing human deaths through robust post-bite response with guaranteed availability of Anti-Rabies Vaccine (ARV) and Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG). “We need to co-exist,” said speakers who played slides of celebrities speaking glowingly for community dogs, signing off with “living together with these dogs puts the ‘wow’ into the bow.”
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