At a time when the Supreme Court has ordered the removal of stray dogs from all Delhi-NCR localities to shelter homes, a new study has revealed that the vast majority of human–street dog interactions in India are peaceful.

Most Encounters Non-Aggressive

According to Economic times, Research by the University of Edinburgh found that 82% of observed interactions between humans and street dogs involved approachable or neutral behaviour. Only 2% showed aggression such as barking, chasing, or biting. The findings highlight that negative encounters are far less common than perceived.

Culling Could Backfire, Warns Researcher

Lead researcher Professor Krithika Srinivasan cautioned that culling or mass removal of street dogs could undo years of public health progress. Reported human rabies cases have dropped by nearly 75% since 2005, largely due to mass dog vaccinations and improved post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
However, she warned that mass removal could create ecological gaps, inviting unfamiliar or potentially dangerous animals into vacated areas.

Public Support for Humane Measures

A 2022–23 survey across 15 states recorded a dog bite incidence of 4.7 per 1,000 people significantly lower than the 18.7 per 1,000 in Cheshire, UK. Public opinion polls in Chennai, Jaipur, and Malappuram showed 86% support for vaccination, 66% for neutering, and over 70% opposition to culling.

Recommendations

The study urged a science-led, community-based approach, universal free PEP, sustained vaccination drives, control of food waste, and public education stressing that quick fixes like culling fail to deliver lasting safety.