RAJOURI (11.01.2026) ARSALAN BHAT: In the wake of recent oral observations by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and the ongoing debate over stray dog management, the Compassion Animal Welfare Organization (AWO) Rajouri has voiced serious concerns regarding the unscientific relocation of stray dogs in the district.
The NGO’s appeal follows a crucial hearing in the Supreme Court on January 8, 2026, where Justice Vikram Nath highlighted the complexities of canine behavior, noting that “dogs can smell fear.” While the Apex Court has previously expressed concerns about stray dogs in high-footfall institutional areas like hospitals and schools, animal welfare groups, including PETA, have urged the court to strictly permit the release of dogs at their exact place of capture post-sterilization.
In Rajouri, where dog-bite incidents have seen a sharp rise in areas like Jawahar Nagar, City Chowk, and the Main Bus Stand, Compassion AWO argues that “warehousing” dogs in shelters or relocating them to unfamiliar territories only increases aggression and fails to control the population. The organization is now seeking an urgent meeting with DC Rajouri to implement the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, which mandate sterilization, vaccination, and immediate return to the original habitat as the only scientifically proven method to ensure both public safety and animal welfare.
Author: therajouritimes
Lakkar Mandi Janipur Jammu
