Delhi's Stray Dog Dilemma Intensifies After Supreme Court Directive
The Supreme Court of India has directed authorities to immediately remove all stray dogs from public premises including educational institutions, hospitals, and transport hubs, creating significant logistical challenges for animal welfare organizations in Delhi. The order, issued on Friday, November 8, 2025, requires that captured dogs be moved to designated shelters and not released back to their original locations.
Shelter Capacity Crisis Looms Large
With an estimated 8 lakh stray dogs in Delhi, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and its partner NGOs face an overwhelming task. The court has mandated that dogs must be placed in shelters after proper sterilization and vaccination according to the Animal Birth Control Rules. However, the existing infrastructure appears insufficient to handle this massive undertaking.
The MCD currently operates through 13 registered NGOs who manage 20 Animal Birth Control Centers across the capital. Each facility can accommodate between 80 and 200 dogs, raising serious questions about where the thousands of additional animals will be housed.
NGOs Voice Practical Concerns
Bandana Sen Gupta, founder of Sonadi Charitable Trust, expressed her organization's predicament. "Currently we have 70 dogs in our shelter. Ten underwent sterilization yesterday; if these animals can't be released back, and if tomorrow an MCD van comes with more dogs, where will I keep them?" she questioned.
Sen Gupta also highlighted financial constraints, noting that the civic body owes her NGO significant funds for Animal Birth Control services. "It is very hard to manage sterilization, feeding, and medical expenses of dogs. Since the MCD does not help, if more dogs are brought here, what will they eat?" she added.
Deepak Nagar, a dog catcher and caretaker at an ABC centre run by Neighbourhood Woof in Timarpur, called the Supreme Court's order nearly impossible to implement. "Our shelter is constructing more kennels to keep dogs, but each kennel can only hold 4-5 dogs, or at the most 6, at a time. We already have 150-200 dogs at a time. They cannot be confined forever," he explained.
MCD's Response and Implementation Strategy
According to MCD sources, an order may be issued early next week designating individuals at every hospital, school, and other public institutions to ensure no feeding of dogs occurs on the premises or nearby. This preventive measure aims to reduce dog populations in sensitive areas without immediate relocation.
An official clarified the approach: "The first step is not to relocate the dog but designate a feeding spot nearby so they don't enter these premises." This strategy represents a more practical interim solution while authorities grapple with the larger shelter capacity issue.
The MCD has reported that 54,623 dogs were sterilized and immunized between April and September 2025, demonstrating the scale of existing ABC operations. However, the new Supreme Court directive substantially increases the pressure on an already strained system.
