The Supreme Court has issued guidelines for managing stray dogs, particularly those that are rabid or aggressive. According to the court’s directives, authorities are instructed to sterilize, deworm, and vaccinate these dogs before releasing them back into their original territory. However, dogs exhibiting rabid or dangerous behavior will not be returned. The process of identifying rabid dogs in India is governed by legal provisions, municipal regulations, and guidelines issued by local administrations.
Under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules, it is possible to identify and isolate dogs suspected of having rabies. Local authorities can take action based on their own information or complaints received. The identification of rabid dogs typically relies on their behavior and physical symptoms. Authorities and veterinary experts are trained to recognize these signs, including excessive aggression without cause, difficulty barking or changes in vocalizations, excessive salivation or foaming at the mouth, staggering or abnormal gait, disorientation, a loose jaw, and vacant or confused eyes.