India, June 22 -- The Madras High Court on Monday directed the Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments to file separate status reports within four weeks detailing the steps they have taken to implement the Supreme Court's directions on managing stray dogs and protecting public safety.

A bench of Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan asked both governments to provide details on the "number of animal birth control centres they have established, the veterinarians and trained staff they have appointed, and the frequency of sterilisation and vaccination drives".

The court also sought information on measures taken to remove stray dogs from educational institutions, hospitals, parks and bus stands, the creation of helpline nu...