Is euthanasia legal for pets in India?

Section 11 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1960 lists what counts as cruelty. Clause (l) makes it an offence to kill any animal, stray dogs included, by strychnine injections in the heart or in any other unnecessarily cruel manner. We found no section in the Act that sets out when a vet may put a pet to sleep at the owner's request.

Section 13, headed 'Destruction of suffering animals', covers a different situation: cruelty cases. A court that convicts an owner of cruelty may order a suffering animal destroyed without unnecessary suffering, on a vet's evidence unless the owner agrees. An injured animal found in public can be put down only after the area's veterinary officer certifies that keeping it alive would be cruel and a magistrate orders it.

The criminal code matters too. Since 1 July 2024 the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has replaced the IPC, and its section 325 punishes mischief by killing, poisoning, maiming or rendering useless any animal with up to five years in prison, a fine, or both.

Section 30 of the Indian Veterinary Council Act 1984 says no one other than a registered veterinary practitioner may practise veterinary medicine in any State. A State may let people with a stockman or veterinary assistant diploma give minor veterinary services, which the Act describes as preliminary aid such as vaccination, castration and dressing wounds, and only under a registered vet's supervision.

Ending an animal's life by any home method risks real suffering, and killing an animal in an unnecessarily cruel manner is an offence under section 11 of the PCA Act. If you cannot reach your usual vet, go to the nearest 24-hour or government veterinary hospital.

Rule 15 of the Animal Birth Control Rules 2023 says incurably ill and mortally wounded street dogs, as diagnosed by a team appointed by the Local Animal Birth Control Monitoring Committee, are euthanised during specified hours in a humane manner by a qualified veterinarian. The team is the jurisdictional veterinary officer, the project in-charge and a representative of the Animal Welfare Board or the State Board. No dog may be euthanised in front of another dog, and records with the reasons must be kept under the team's signature.

Suspected rabies is where the texts do not read the same. Rule 16 of the ABC Rules says a dog found highly likely to have rabies is isolated until it dies a natural death. The Supreme Court's judgment of 19 May 2026, as summarised on Petym's community dog rules page, allowed measures including euthanasia for rabid or dangerous dogs. If you are dealing with a suspected rabid dog, keep away from it and call the municipal veterinary department, which will know which procedure applies in your city. Anyone bitten or scratched should wash the wound with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and see a doctor at once.

Because no Indian law sets out when a vet must or must not agree to euthanasia, the decision rests on the vet's clinical judgement and your consent. PDSA notes that where a pet is suffering badly the vet may advise euthanasia straight away, and otherwise the appointment can wait for another day. If you and your vet disagree, a second opinion from another registered vet is reasonable.