Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Friday reviewed its compliance with the Supreme Court’s (SC) directives on managing issues related to stray dogs, cattle and other animals, with an emphasis on public safety and humane treatment of animals. A high-level meeting in this regard was held at Lok Seva Bhawan under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Anu Garg.
The meeting focused on steps taken and proposed by various departments to address problems arising from stray animals, particularly incidents involving dog bites. The review comes in the backdrop of an important Supreme Court decision delivered on July 20, 2025, after the apex court took suo motu cognisance of a national newspaper report highlighting cases of children being bitten by stray dogs in several parts of Delhi, including New Delhi.
During the meeting, senior officials briefed the Chief Secretary on measures initiated by their respective departments to comply with the Supreme Court’s guidelines. Principal administrative secretaries, commissioners and secretaries from departments such as Fisheries and Animal Resources Development, Housing and Urban Development, Commerce and Transport, Women and Child Development, Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water, Higher Education, School and Mass Education, Sports and Youth Services, and ST/SC/OBC Welfare, among others, participated in the deliberations.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg described the issue as one of critical importance, stressing the need to strike a balance between compassion for animals and the safety of human life. She underlined that while humane treatment of animals must be ensured, protecting citizens—especially children—from harm remains the government’s foremost priority.
Directing all concerned departments to strictly adhere to the Supreme Court’s directives, Garg emphasised coordinated action and timely implementation at both urban and rural levels. She also called for extensive awareness programmes to be conducted across the state, particularly through the Health and Family Welfare Department, to educate the public on preventive measures and responsible behaviour around stray animals.
Special emphasis was laid on ensuring immediate first-aid and medical treatment in cases of dog bites. The Chief Secretary instructed officials to strengthen response mechanisms, issue clear guidelines to field-level functionaries and ensure that healthcare facilities are adequately prepared to handle such emergencies.
The state government, she said, remains committed to addressing the issue in a comprehensive and humane manner while safeguarding public health and safety.
