Following the Supreme Court’s endorsement of the standard operating procedure (SOP) for addressing the issue of stray dogs, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) is quickly mobilizing to establish the necessary infrastructure, which currently includes permanent shelters and additional sterilization facilities throughout the city.
MCD officials acknowledged their lack of resources for managing the large-scale relocation and housing of stray dogs. They are now in the process of locating suitable land within existing animal husbandry facilities overseen by the Delhi government, with plans to construct at least one dog shelter in each of the Capital’s twelve zones. A senior official from the MCD stated, “We are assessing areas at all animal husbandry hospitals, and in accordance with the guidelines set forth by the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI), we will create shelters there. Depending on the size of the facilities, they could accommodate 100, 200, or even 500 dogs.”
This initiative comes in response to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Tuesday, which dismissed challenges to the SOP mandating that stray dogs collected from public spaces must not be returned to those areas post-sterilization. The court noted that while individuals have the right to live without fear of dog attacks under Article 21 of the Constitution, the situation would not have escalated to “alarming proportions” if the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules had been properly enforced by states and Union Territories from the beginning.
Officials reported that they had already begun the search for land following the court’s initial directives last August, which ordered Delhi-NCR authorities to transition all stray dogs from the streets to designated shelters.
Among the proposed shelters is a planned 2.5-acre facility in Dwarka’s Sector 29 specifically for aggressive dogs. Additionally, the ABC centers at Bijwasan and Bella Road, which currently feature 14 and 40 kennels, respectively, are set to be expanded. However, full-scale construction on these facilities has yet to commence, according to officials.
The Dwarka Sector 29 project, anticipated to house approximately 2,000 dogs, has received budgetary approval, and tenders are expected to be issued soon. An official indicated, “The work is likely to be completed in the next five to six months. This will be the city’s first permanent dog shelter and will also accommodate aggressive dogs.”
Moreover, enhancements to the ABC centers at Bijwasan and Bella Road are already underway, with the former expected to expand within a month, while the latter will require more time. Officials mentioned that the MCD is seeking corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives to expedite the development.
However, existing facilities are facing challenges. Out of the 20 ABC centers previously managed by 13 NGOs, seven have been closed since October due to non-compliance with AWBI standards, which has hindered vaccination efforts. An official pointed out, “Previously, we administered about 11,500 vaccinations monthly. Now, that number has decreased to approximately 8,500.”
To address complaints regarding aggressive dogs, officials will monitor these animals for around ten days. Meanwhile, animal caregivers have expressed concerns about the swift implementation of the Supreme Court’s orders. Ashima Sharma, an animal caregiver in Delhi, remarked, “It is positive that the court has upheld the ABC guidelines without expanding the order. However, authorities must also understand the reasons behind dog bites and ensure that the capture process is humane.”
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