India Writes for Its Community Dogs
Nationwide letter petition to the Supreme Court against the removal order ·
ClosedOutcome: Not achievedAs of
In , people across India wrote by hand to the Supreme Court, asking it to reconsider its 7 November order to remove community dogs from public institutions. On 29 November they walked to their post offices to send the letters together.
- All GPOs and HPOs
Campaign goal
Goal: reconsideration of the removal order.
Success criterion: the Court reconsiders the removal and relocation directions.
Outcome: Not achievedAs of
Why it mattered
No infrastructure
India lacks government-run shelters to house millions of street dogs. Removal is not practical.
Inevitable suffering
Forced relocation will cause immense suffering and chaos for both animals and communities.
Humane solutions exist
We request the Court adopt realistic, sustainable solutions like ABC programs and community care.
Your Constitutional Right
Why letters to the Supreme Court work?
The Supreme Court can take cognizance based on citizen letters — this is a rare and powerful constitutional tool available to every Indian.
- Constitutional right recognized in SP Gupta vs Union of India
- Handwritten letters carry legal weight and seriousness
- Nationwide peaceful civic action creates powerful visibility
Use the uniform title: "IN RE: India Writes for Animal Rights" to help the Court consolidate all letters into one national plea.
What we did
Nationwide GPO participation on 29 Nov 2025
Thousands of citizens walked to their nearest General Post Offices across India to hand-deliver letters urging reconsideration of stray dog removal orders.
Volunteer coordinators in more than 100 cities helped people find their nearest post office, use the letter templates and post on the same day. After posting, participants uploaded their postal receipts as proof that each letter had gone out.
As reported by LawChakra, letters were posted from cities as far apart as Imphal, Vadodara and Chennai, and many participants uploaded their postal receipts as proof.
The letters
- Letter petition “India Writes for Animal Rights” to the Supreme Court (English)
- Letter petition to the Supreme Court (English)
- Handwritten Letter Format
- Key Points to Include in Your Letter
Moments
A glimpse of the compassion and unity that drives our movement forward
Campaign timeline
Key milestones in our journey toward compassionate coexistence
- Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance
- Relocation order Read the order (2025 INSC 977)
- Order modified Read the judgment (2025 INSC 1018)
- Campaign Launch Animal Writes movement officially announced across social media
- Removal order Read the order (2025 INSC 1357)
- 10,000 Citizens Committed First major milestone reached with supporters across 50+ cities
- Regional Coordinators Active 100+ volunteer coordinators organizing local movements in their cities
- The Big Day – National GPO Walk Thousands walked to post offices across India to mail letters to the Supreme Court
- 2.5 Lakhs Letters Delivered! Letters delivered to the Supreme Court – Over 2,50,000 handwritten letters successfully sent to Supreme Court
- Final judgment upholds the order Read the judgment (2026 INSC 506)
Impact
Results
Press reports of the number of letters:
- Over 1,00,000 people filed letter petition in Supreme Court — India TV ·
- Over 1.5L from TN write to SC seeking recall of dog removal order — DT Next ·
- Over 50,000 Indians Flood Supreme Court With Handwritten Letters Opposing Stray Dogs Removal Order — LawChakra ·
Real-world impact
No change (verified)Evidence: Supreme Court judgment of on stray dogs (2026 INSC 506)
What happened next
On , the Supreme Court delivered its final judgment in the case (2026 INSC 506). It dismissed all applications to modify its order, upheld the Animal Welfare Board of India’s standard operating procedure, and allowed the euthanasia of rabid or dangerously aggressive dogs within legal safeguards. It directed every High Court to open its own case to monitor compliance, and several, including Delhi, Madras and Kerala, have since done so. The full judgment and earlier orders are in the Library.
- Supreme Court judgment of on stray dogs (2026 INSC 506)
- Supreme Court order of on stray dogs in schools, hospitals and stations (2025 INSC 1357)
- Strict compliance with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 5 of 2025, In Re: City Hounded by Strays, Kids Pay Price, the Standard Operating Procedures issued by the Animal Welfare Board of India dated 27.11.2025 and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023.
Supported by
Media coverage
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TOILucknow joins nationwide protest against SC order on community dogs
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LawChakraOver 50,000 Indians flood Supreme Court with handwritten letters opposing stray dogs removal order
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TNIEAnimal lovers spam Supreme Court with letter petitions
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Over 1.5L from TN write to SC seeking recall of dog removal order
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India TV NewsDeath sentence to animals: Thousands write to Supreme Court
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Outlook IndiaNationwide letter campaign urges SC to strengthen animal rights
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Deccan HeraldNationwide campaign urges citizens to write to SC for animal welfare
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Over 1,00,000 people filed letter petition in Supreme Court
Help animals near you Join volunteers across India who rescue, feed and speak up for animals. Pick what you can do; we'll connect you. Register as a volunteer
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HinduOver 50,000 citizens write to Supreme Court against stray dogs order
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Mathrubhumi50,000 citizens write to Supreme Court against order to remove community dogs
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TOIAnimal activists to participate in letter campaign
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Read the law and the record
News and guides
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LiveLawCommunity DogsPublic suffering due to authorities’ failure to implement SC directions on stray dogs: Delhi High Court
The Delhi High Court observed that the public is suffering because government authorities have failed to strictly implement Supreme Court of India directions concerning stray dogs. Justice Girish Kathpalia made this observation while hearing a plea by Aditya Vikram Bohra…
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Bar and BenchCommunity DogsStray dogs: Kerala HC to monitor implementation of Supreme Court directions every month
The Kerala High Court will monitor the monthly enforcement of Supreme Court orders on stray dogs across the state. The court directed state-constituted committees to classify local bodies based on their compliance as fully, partially, or not compliant. This decision…
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Bar and BenchCommunity Dogs
Delhi High Court registers suo motu PIL on stray dogs issue
The Delhi High Court registered a suo motu public interest litigation concerning stray dogs to address animal management issues. The Delhi High Court initiated this suo motu public interest litigation in compliance with directions issued by the Supreme Court of…
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LiveLawCommunity Dogs
Madras High Court directs Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Govts to report steps taken to remove stray dogs from public places
The Madras High Court has asked the Tamil Nadu government and Puducherry to report on the removal of stray dogs from public places. The bench consisting of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan took up the case…
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SwarajyaCommunity DogsSupreme Court refuses to modify order removing stray dogs from public institutions across India
The Supreme Court of India dismissed all pleas seeking to recall its order directing states and union territories to remove stray dogs from public institutions across the country. The three-judge bench upheld standard operating procedures issued by the Animal Welfare…
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TNIECommunity Dogs
SC upholds stray dog relocation order, allows euthanasia of aggressive dogs if necessary
The Supreme Court has upheld its , order on the relocation and sterilization of stray dogs while permitting the euthanasia of aggressive dogs when necessary to safeguard human life. The court noted that, in Rajasthan, 1,084 dog bite…
Guides and research
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Supreme Court stray dog orders, explained (2025 to 2026)
The Supreme Court stray dog orders come from one case begun in ; orders of August and and set what councils must do.
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Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI): what it does
The Animal Welfare Board of India is a statutory body set up in 1962 under the PCA Act, 1960. It advises the government and recognises welfare groups.
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Feeding community dogs: the law, and what to do if your RWA stops you
Feeding stray dogs is not illegal in India. What the ABC Rules 2023 and the Supreme Court say, and what to do if your RWA or society stops you.
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ABC Rules 2023: what the law says about community dogs
The Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 were notified by the central government in . They replace the 2001 rules and set out how community dogs and cats are sterilised and vaccinated. Main points If the rules are not being…
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Animal welfare laws in India, in plain words
What the main animal welfare laws say, who enforces them, and where to read the originals.
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What is Animal Birth Control (ABC) and how does it work?
What the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 say about sterilising, vaccinating and returning community dogs.
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