New Delhi: A new Uttar Pradesh rule mandating lifelong confinement for stray dogs that bite more than once has unleashed a wave of headlines, punchlines, and AI-generated memes — from dogs in lawyers’ robes to police handing out written warnings to strays after the first nip.
Last month, a Supreme Court order to send all Delhi strays to shelters led to protests and impassioned debates before it was modified. The Uttar Pradesh rule for habitual biters, by contrast, has drawn farcical responses. “Kutto par sarkar ka naya niyam, kaatne par jaayenge jail aur ho sakti hai umr kaid” (Government’s new rule for dogs: if they bite, they’ll go to jail and can even face life imprisonment), ran one Amar Ujala headline. “Awara kutto ko hogi umr kaid ki saza” (Rogue dogs will now get life in prison), said ABP News.
The order, issued by UP Principal Secretary Amrit Abhijat after recent Supreme Court directives on stray dog management, is meant to prevent dog bite cases. Government data shows UP recorded 164,009 dog bite cases in 2024; this year, as of January, there were 20,478 cases.
Any dog that bites a human once without provocation will be kept in an animal centre for 10 days for sterilisation and monitoring. If already sterilised, it will be released back to its original location with a microchip attached to track its movements. The microchip will record details such as gender, age, and location, making it possible to trace repeat offenders.
“If a dog bites a human for the second time, it will be kept in the animal centre for the remainder of its life,” said Dr Vijay Amritraj, Veterinary & Animal Welfare Officer, Prayagraj Municipal Corporation, in a media interview.
However, rather than fuelling serious conversations over policy, the new rule has largely become fodder for memes.
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‘Paw and Order’
One viral meme shows a dog peeking from behind bars with the caption “Paw and Order” written on the wall, alongside “Guilty for Being Cute.” Similar AI-generated images and memes have been circulating widely since the rule came to light.
On platforms such as X, many asked how the government planned to explain to dogs that they only get one free bite.
“Are dogs allowed to hire lawyers and go to court?” one post read. Another wondered about the possibility of a furlough: “Will such dogs be released on long parole, just like in the case of Ram Rahim?”
UP govt orders life imprisonment for stray dogs who bite twice
dogesh community advocate in court : pic.twitter.com/GPJq7wXtCS
— SwatKat💃 (@swatic12) September 17, 2025
Others drew parallels with the law-and-order situation in the state. While dogs get locked away, said one X post, “repeat offenders in power roam free. Irony just barked.” Another scoffed at the logic of a first-bite free pass: “It’s like I can walk for free if I hit a man with my car once.”
Some joked about hiring dogs as judges and lawyers for fair representation, while others spun entire fables. One tale making the rounds had a buffalo running frantically. When asked why by a dog, the buffalo said police were arresting cows. “But you’re not a cow,” said the dog. “It’ll take 20 years to prove that in court,” the buffalo replied — and the dog started running too.
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The only way out?
But it’s not all fun and games. Animal activists are questioning how the rule will be enforced and what it might mean for the treatment of dogs.
“Another day of a new rule and another form of cruelty against dogs,” said Divya Puri, an animal rescuer and co-founder of the Karan Puri Foundation, a Delhi-based nonprofit that helps stray dogs.
She asked how the government — already struggling to carry out sterilisation drives — plans to fund the lifelong care of confined dogs.
“Who will monitor the microchips? And who will determine whether the bite was provoked or not?” she added.
Dogs that will be held for lifelong confinement by the authorities will only be released if they are permanently adopted by someone. The adopters must sign an affidavit promising to provide lifelong care for the dogs and agreeing never to release them back onto the streets.
“An organised and experienced team will look into the entire matter — from observing the dog’s behaviour to conducting an investigation into the bite to determine whether it was provoked or not,” said Amritraj.
(Edited by Asavari Singh)