India, Jan. 9 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday said it had not directed the removal of every dog from the streets and the directive was to treat these stray canines according to the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules. While hearing arguments in the stray dogs case, the apex court observed that a dog can smell people who are either afraid of them or have suffered a dog bite and they attack such persons.

A three-judge special bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and N V Anjaria was hearing the pleas, including the ones filed by dog lovers seeking modification of its earlier orders and those for stringent compliance with the directives.

"We have not directed the removal of every dog from the streets. The direction is to treat...