Over 2,000 Stray Dogs Hanged from Trees and Bludgeoned to Death: Where’s Justice?

Target: B. Shivadhar Reddy, Director General of Police, Telangana State Police, Hyderabad, India

Goal: Ensure a full investigation and prosecution of those responsible for the illegal mass killing of over 2,000 stray dogs.

Over 2,000 stray dogs were killed illegally in Telangana between 2025 and 2026 — with accounts describing animals hanged from trees and bludgeoned to death before their bodies were mass-dumped in the open. These killings allegedly took place in violation of the Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, which prohibit the killing of stray dogs and mandate a Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return approach. What has occurred is not a lawful public health measure — it is a series of extrajudicial mass killings carried out in defiance of established law.

The manner in which these dogs were killed — hanged from trees and beaten to death — reflects a level of deliberate brutality that goes far beyond any claimed public safety rationale. The scale of the killings, spanning multiple years and thousands of animals, suggests an organised and ongoing pattern of illegal activity rather than isolated incidents.

India’s Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 both protect stray dogs from unlawful killing. The Telangana Police must treat the mass extermination of over 2,000 dogs as the serious criminal matter it is, identify those responsible, and pursue prosecution without delay.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear DGP Reddy,

We are writing to urge your office to conduct a full investigation into the illegal killing of over 2,000 stray dogs in Telangana, carried out between 2025 and 2026. Tthese animals were hanged from trees, bludgeoned to death, and mass-dumped — all in violation of India’s Animal Birth Control (Dogs) Rules, 2023, which explicitly prohibit the killing of stray dogs.

The scale and brutality of these killings is deeply alarming. More than 2,000 animals killed — not through any lawful process, but through hanging and beating — represents one of the most severe instances of mass animal cruelty reported in India in recent years. The fact that these acts continued over an extended period suggests they were not isolated but systematic.

We urge your office to direct a full and independent investigation into these killings, to identify the individuals and any organised groups responsible, and to pursue the strongest available charges under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, and all other applicable laws. Over 2,000 dogs suffered violent, illegal deaths. Justice demands a thorough and urgent response.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: Abhipalsinghjadon1

Please share and discuss this cause on social media. Spreading the word is essential to the success of this petition:
Why Comments Are Temporarily Disabled

Due to strict advertising policies enforced by our ad provider, we’ve had to temporarily disable the comments section on all petitions. This change was necessary to protect our ability to continue reaching millions of animal advocates around the world.

We believe in the power of community voices, and we hope to bring comments back permanently and without restrictions. But to do that, we need to reduce our reliance on ad revenue.

The best way to support independent animal advocacy, and help us remove ads altogether, is by becoming a Premium Member.

With your help, we can protect animals and free our platform from corporate ad constraints.

Can’t upgrade now? You can still help by sharing this petition:

10 Signatures

  • Sarah Manktelow
  • Jared Brenner
  • Karen Smith
  • Rosa Cabrerizo
  • Lori Dozark
  • Heidi Kausch
  • BobbyKat LittleCub
  • Stephanie D
  • A Del Bono
  • Diane Petrillo
Skip to toolbar