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Recent studies conducted after the apex court judgement on street dogs have refuted the common perception that street dogs are savage and a menace. The findings suggest that they are often valued members of the community, though some counter-perspectives believe these survey results may be subject to confirmation bias and may not always reflect the realities of conflict or the disproportionate risk faced by lower-income individuals or outdoor workers.
A vast majority of respondents (91.4%) in a 10-city study by a Delhi-based think tank, Esya Centre, believe that the presence of street dogs helps deter criminal activity. Many feel the dogs help protect women and children, and their barking alerts residents to intruders. A separate study involving 291 participants found that 63.9% of people feel protected by dogs in their residential area, particularly at night.
Contrary to stereotypes of universal aggression, most participants described local free-ranging dogs as friendly (73.5%) or timid (15%), with only about 11% characterising them as aggressive. Aggression in street dogs usually stems from provocation, fear or a need to protect their pups or territory.
The studies highlight a dynamic of coexistence, where human behaviour plays a large role in shaping canine behaviour; communities that treat dogs kindly tend to have calmer, more approachable dogs. Feeders are often uniquely positioned to assist with Animal Birth Control (ABC) programmes, vaccination and record-keeping efforts.
More than half of the respondents felt that community dogs helped control populations of pests like rats and monkeys, contributing to a better sense of safety and sanitation. Studies said rabies deaths in India had declined significantly, from 534 in 2004 to 54 in 2024, a drop attributed to sustained vaccination and sterilisation campaigns, not the removal of dogs.
As per the studies, there was a significant shift towards more positive attitudes, with over 90% of people feeling safer and finding street dogs friendly, viewing them as protectors against crime. Research also highlighted that most human-dog encounters were peaceful, emphasising the impact of kind human behaviour on dog temperaments and showing decreasing rabies cases due to vaccination efforts, contrary to common fears.
Key findings:
A large survey found 91.4% of Indians felt safer with street dogs in their neighbourhoods, believing they deterred criminals. 91.4 per cent of respondents reported that neighbourhood dogs helped to keep their communities safer and deterred criminal activity. “A further 52.21 per cent felt that their presence helps keep women and children safe. Moreover, 96 per cent of respondents stated that they feel “very safe” in their area because of community dogs,” the Esya study report read.
As many as 73.5% of people described free-ranging dogs as friendly or timid, with only 10.8% calling them aggressive, according to a study across 10 cities. “Most free-ranging dogs are not aggressive. When respondents were asked to describe the general temperament of free-ranging dogs in their neighbourhoods, 73.5 per cent characterised them as friendly, and 15 per cent as timid,” the report said, adding, “only 10.8 per cent of respondents described the dogs in their locality as aggressive”. Research indicates 82% of human-street dog interactions are neutral or approachable, with only 2% involving aggression (barking, chasing or biting).
The studies stress that consistent kind treatment by people makes dogs more approachable and less threatening, highlighting a strong link between human action and animal response. “When people consistently treat free-ranging dogs kindly— by feeding them or interacting with them without hostility—the dogs are more approachable and less likely to perceive humans as a threat,” the Esya study report said.
It noted that 74 per cent of dog feeders considered feeding dogs a key part of their religious practice. “This is unsurprising given that dogs play important roles in epics like the Mahabharata and enjoy close connections with several Indian gods,” it said. “When people consistently treat free-ranging dogs kindly— by feeding them or interacting with them without hostility—the dogs are more approachable and less likely to perceive humans as a threat,” it said.
Despite concerns, reported human rabies cases dropped significantly (nearly 75% from 2005-2022), credited to mass vaccination and better prophylaxis, studies said.
Reasons for the shift in attitude
Younger demographics and changing lifestyles in big cities are leading to increased pet ownership and adoption of more pet-friendly norms. In urban centres, a growing trend of "pet parenting" and rising socioeconomic status correlates with more positive attitudes toward both pet and stray dogs. Younger generations and pet owners generally exhibit more positive perceptions and engagement in animal welfare activities like adoption and feeding.
Research provides evidence for better, compassionate policymaking, countering fear-based approaches like culling, which studies say can be counterproductive. These findings suggest a growing understanding and acceptance of community dogs, shifting perceptions from threats to valued neighbourhood assets, supported by decreasing disease statistics and increasing human-animal bond studies. “The challenges that do exist—dog bites, localised conflict and uneven population distribution—are real, but they stem not from the mere presence of community dogs, but from gaps in municipal planning, waste management systems and effective implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules,” the Esya survey report said. The research said instead of focusing on the removal of stray dogs, the spotlight should be on better reporting of dog-bite cases, community involvement, and proper sterilisation and vaccination.
Studies also indicate that stray dogs are generally not inherently savage or aggressive; rather, their behaviour is typically defensive, cautious or a reaction to fear, pain or provocation. Aggression in street dogs usually stems from specific factors, not a natural inclination to attack humans. As per experts, most street dogs are naturally wary of humans and prefer to avoid conflict. Aggressive incidents are often a response to perceived threats, such as someone throwing stones, chasing, or making sudden movements. A University of Edinburgh study found that human-street dog encounters in India were predominantly peaceful, with over 82% of observed interactions being uneventful or involving approachable behaviour from the dogs. Dogs living on the streets have often experienced abuse, lack of food and trauma, leading them to react defensively out of fear for survival. If a dog feels its pups or territory are threatened, it may also act aggressively.
Dogs have coexisted with humans for millennia. They have evolved to be part of an urban ecosystem, often helping control rodent populations and acting as natural guardians by alerting residents to strangers. Experts suggest that human actions often contribute to conflict. Teasing dogs, not providing proper waste management (which leads to scavenging), and failing to implement effective sterilisation and vaccination programmes are key issues.
The scientific consensus emphasises that when managed responsibly through community education, vaccination and sterilisation programmes, stray dogs pose a minimal public health risk. The focus is on effective, humane management rather than the fear-based perception of dogs being inherently dangerous.
Hence, the perception of stray dogs is shifting from viewing them primarily as a public nuisance and health risk to seeing them as sentient, community-owned animals deserving of care and protection. This change is driven by an increase in awareness campaigns, the implementation of humane population control policies and a cultural shift toward more compassionate views. Apart from other factors, positive media coverage and social media campaigns highlight rescue stories and promote a message of kindness and responsible pet ownership, helping to cultivate empathy and community involvement.
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