Assam 26 Dogs Rescued: Inside the Truck Stopped in Karbi Anglong

It was an everyday inspection of a road in Assam. It culminated in the removal of 26 scared dogs from jute bags on one by one basis. The tale of how all 26 Assam dogs were recovered has been shared widely this week and many pet parents were left wondering across India: where do missing dogs go?

The Stop on the Road

A truck was stopped by police on Wednesday, 28 October 2026, in Karbi Anglong district. According to The Hindu and a press release from Humane World for Animals India, the dogs inside had been stuffed into jute sacks with their mouths tied shut. The police suspected they were being taken for the illegal dog meat business.

The rescue was a joint effort. Assam Police collaborated with four animal welfare organizations—Just Be Friendly (JBF), Humane World for Animals India, UCI Foundation and Anaajoree.

The First Few Hours

The dogs were initially kept in police custody at the Karbi Anglong veterinary department. Within hours they were shifted to the JBF Integrated Care and Resource Centre for Animal Welfare near Guwahati as reported by The Hindu and ThePrint.

Can you imagine how those hours went for the dogs? Many were probably picked off the streets and neighborhoods that they were familiar with. They were tied up, unable to see and without water for a long time in a moving truck.

What the Vets Found

Humane World for Animals reported on 2 November that when the dogs were examined by veterinarians, they found that many were infested with ticks and dehydrated. Two of the dogs were pregnant. The same update was reported on 3 November in World Animal News, quoting Keren Nazareth of Humane World for Animals India: “Every dog rescued from this trade is a life spared from immense suffering.”

The dogs are now being medicated and tended to. Local groups will find them permanent loving homes once they are recovered.

Why This Story Has People Talking

There are three points that make this rescue unique.

1. Families are looking for their own dogs. Humane World for Animals said the story garnered so much interest that people in the local area began calling them to inquire whether their missing dogs were in the group. For anyone who has lost a pet, that detail hits hard.

2. There are larger numbers than people realize. Based on the group’s research, tens of thousands of dogs are estimated to be kidnapped or picked up from the streets in Assam every year and taken across borders to states such as Mizoram and Nagaland. In an interview with ThePrint, Nazareth said the trade is “far more organised than most people imagine”.

3. Teamwork worked. Rescue groups called it a strong example of police and multiple organisations working together directly. This was the third rescue by the group this year, bringing the total to 69 dogs, JBF founder Dr Shashanka Dutta said.

A Pattern of Change in the Northeast

This is not the only sign of change. ThePrint recalled that in mid-2026, that the major dog meat wholesalers in Nagaland abandoned the business and turned to other occupations, such as mushroom farming and pickle making, giving up 18 dogs. We have reported it in the story, ‘Nagaland dog meat vendors rescue 18 dogs from illegal trade‘.

There is also a health link, rescue groups say. The uncontrolled movement of unvaccinated dogs across the states can work against efforts to end rabies, a goal India has set for 2030. Read more in India sets target to end rabies deaths by 2030.

What Pet Parents Can Do

You do not have to live in Assam to help keep the dogs safe.

• Microchip and collar your dog. It can be easier to return a lost dog to you if it has an ID tag with your phone number on it.
• Do not let pets roam unwatched, particularly at night.
• Vaccinate and sterilise community dogs with local groups to keep them healthy and recognised in the community.
• Notify the local police or animal welfare hotlines of suspicious cars with animals.
• Think about adoption. Groups such as JBF are looking for homes for rescued dogs.

The Road Ahead for the 26

For now, the 26 dogs are resting, eating and slowly growing accustomed to the presence of people once more. Two of them may soon have puppies who will never know the inside of a sack. Their tale is a reminder that each Indie dog that we see in our streets is someone’s companion, or could be.

We will update this story if there is news on the dogs’ adoption.