Kerala follows Supreme Court ruling with stray dog euthanasia guidelines
Keralam just rolled out new guidelines for handling stray dogs that are rabid, incurably ill, or dangerously aggressive.
This move comes after a Supreme Court ruling in May 2026 gave the green light to humane euthanasia in cases where public safety is at risk.
Local teams will review each situation carefully before making any decisions.
Qualified vets to perform IV euthanasia
Stray dog management committee, made up of local officials, veterinarians, and animal welfare representatives, will look into each case.
Only qualified veterinarians can carry out the procedure. Only sodium pentobarbital or thiopental sodium should be administered intravenously to make sure it's painless.
Before anything happens, the dogs are kept isolated for two to three days so approved agencies or animal lovers have a chance to claim responsibility for the dog if they're willing to take care of the dog.
Records documented and state audited
Every case gets documented with details like where the dog was found and why euthanasia was chosen.
A state-level committee will audit these records to make sure everything's above board, and officials acting in good faith are legally protected under the Supreme Court order.