Experts are cautioning against mass removal of stray dogs, arguing that such measures could backfire on public health and overall safety. Instead of improving the situation, large-scale culling or relocation efforts may actually increase the risk of disease transmission and destabilize urban ecosystems.

The primary concern revolves around disrupting the natural social structure of street dog populations. Free-living dogs often form stable social groups, and when these groups are broken up through mass removals, it creates a "population vacuum". This void is quickly filled by new, often unvaccinated and unsterilized dogs migrating into the area, leading to increased dog-bite incidents and a higher risk of disease outbreaks.

Rabies control is a major point of contention. Experts emphasize that mass removal undermines herd immunity, which is achieved by consistently vaccinating at least 70% of dogs in a given area. India's existing Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR) framework, when properly implemented, aims to reach this threshold. Abandoning this approach could reverse the progress made in reducing human rabies deaths and dog-bite incidence in areas with sustained sterilization and vaccination programs. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) also support CNVR as the only scientifically validated approach for rabies elimination.

Beyond rabies, mass dog removal can pose ecological threats. Removing dogs can lead to an increase in rodent populations, which, unlike dogs, cannot be easily caught and vaccinated. This can raise the risk of outbreaks of serious zoonotic diseases like leptospirosis and plague. Stray dogs also help in managing the population of small insects and other pests, which limits the spread of diseases and protects crops from being damaged.

Moreover, mass dog shelters are often proposed as a solution, but experts warn that these facilities can amplify disease risk due to overcrowding, stress, and poor biosecurity. Such conditions can lead to the rapid spread of infectious diseases like kennel cough, parvovirus, canine distemper, and bacterial infections, some of which are zoonotic and can spill over to humans. Concentrating animals and the people who care for them also creates new, high-risk interaction points, potentially multiplying opportunities for disease transmission.

Humane and effective alternatives to mass removal exist. These include:

• Animal Birth Control (ABC) programs: Sterilization programs, including spaying and neutering, can help reduce the reproduction rates of stray dogs, contributing to population control over the long term. Sterilization can also reduce aggression and territorial behavior in dogs, decreasing risks of conflict with humans and other animals.
• Mass vaccination campaigns: Vaccinating at least 70% of the dogs in an area creates herd immunity, slowing the spread of rabies until it dies out.
• Community engagement: Education and awareness initiatives can promote responsible pet ownership, safe interactions with stray dogs, and the importance of rabies vaccination.
• Adoption and rehoming programs: These programs can help remove adoptable stray dogs from the streets and place them in loving homes.

A collaborative approach involving animal welfare groups, local communities, and government agencies is essential for the humane and effective management of stray dog populations. By focusing on vaccination, sterilization, responsible pet ownership, and community engagement, it is possible to create safer and healthier communities for both people and animals.