A peaceful rally calling for a humane and law-aligned approach to stray dog management was held in Hyderabad on Sunday, organised by People for Animals (PFA) – Hyderabad & Secunderabad. Nearly 100 volunteers and animal lovers marched from the Old Ambedkar Statue at Lower Tank Bund to the GHMC Commissioner’s Office, urging authorities to stop indiscriminate dog removals across the city.

The demonstration came after GHMC intensified dog-lifting operations following the Supreme Court’s November 7 order. Animal-welfare groups, including PFA, said the order is being misapplied, stressing that it covers only dogs found inside institutional premises and not community dogs living in residential areas or public spaces. They warned that such removals violate the Animal Birth Control (ABC) guidelines, which require sterilised and vaccinated dogs to be returned to their original locations.

Activists further noted that removing stable dog groups creates ecological gaps that attract unsterilised dogs, increasing conflicts, bite incidents and future population growth. They also pointed out that Hyderabad lacks permanent shelters, as ABC centres are meant only for sterilisation, vaccination and brief post-operative care. PFA demanded that GHMC disclose where the removed dogs are being kept and ensure full transparency to ease public concern.

Soudharm Bhandari, coordinator of the Greater Hyderabad Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (GHSPCA), said the removals are “not scientific”, noting that GHMC lacks shelters to house hundreds of dogs. He stressed the need for a proper plan—first establishing functional rescue shelters and ensuring adequate facilities before undertaking any large-scale dog removals.

At the rally, participants submitted a representation to GHMC Commissioner, emphasising the need for a compassionate, scientific stray dog policy that balances public safety with animal welfare.