Stray dogs that bite people in Uttar Pradesh will face ‘life imprisonment’

Rising incidents of dog bites in Uttar Pradesh, India, have created widespread panic among the public. To address this issue, the state government has introduced new rules. These guidelines regarding stray dogs have sparked controversy across India. According to the guidelines, any dog ​​that bites someone without provocation will be detained for 10 days—meaning it will be taken to an animal shelter. If the same dog bites someone again, it will be given a life sentence. Dr. Vijay Amritraj, a veterinary officer in Uttar Pradesh, explained, “After 10 days in the shelter, they will be microchipped and returned to their original location. This will allow them to be easily identified, so they can be tracked and apprehended if they attack someone again.” The dog will only be released from ‘imprisonment’ if a kind person adopts it as a pet. However, the adopter will have to sign an affidavit promising that the dog will never be released on the streets again. Earlier, the Supreme Court of India had ordered the removal of stray dogs from the streets of Delhi. However, after widespread public outrage from dog lovers, the court reversed its order. According to official statistics, Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of stray dogs in India.