How can New Delhi deal with its stray dog problem

Authorities in Delhi label stray dogs as threats to human safety, while activists see them as part of nature. The large dog population and lack of resources have created a serious challenge that needs humane solutions.

Animal rights activists in the Indian capital are outraged at the new order to remove stray dogs from the streets. Police arrested dozens of protesters on Tuesday, and Chief Justice of India BR Gavai said he would actively review the Supreme Court’s directive.

On Monday, the court directed Delhi authorities to remove all stray dogs from residential areas and relocate them to shelters within two months. The order came in response to rising cases of dog bites and rabies.

Babies and young children must never suffer from rabies. Authorities should ensure that everyone can walk freely without fearing stray dog bites.

Various surveys by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and animal rights activists estimate the stray dog population in Delhi to fluctuate between 8 lakh and 10 lakh. While some residents see this as a problem, others consider these dogs companions and part of the city’s urban ecosystem.

Animal lovers and activists argue that municipalities have failed to manage the large number of strays safely. They stress the need for proper removal and sheltering of the dogs roaming Delhi’s streets.

“The court order is illogical, impractical, inhuman, and illegal. It’s just like rounding up your next-door neighbor. These New Delhi stray dogs have lived here for generations. They are Delhiites through and through, just trying to survive like all of us,” said Shaurya Agrawal from People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to DW.

Too many dogs, too few shelters:

Animal rights activists say the Supreme Court’s order goes against so-called animal birth control (ABC) regulations, which require sterilization and vaccination of the dog, followed by its release into the area from where it was captured, as a humane and scientifically proven method of population control.

Data tabled in the parliament had put incidences of dog-bite cases reported in 2024 at more than 3.7 million and suspected human deaths due to rabies reported at 54 across a 1.4-billion population. Since 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has established cases of dog-bite to be around 2.75 million.

More than 26,000 dog bites have been reported in Delhi so far this year, according to official municipal data that served as the grounds for recent judicial intervention.

Critics of the removal order cite logistical impossibilities in setting up shelters and resources to the extent envisaged by the top court. Delhi’s municipality manages just 20 animal control centers with a capacity of less than 5,000 dogs.

“Catching, feeding, and caring for tens of thousands of dogs daily would require huge annual funding. It would need thousands of animal catchers, ambulances, veterinary doctors, and large teams for daily maintenance — resources that Delhi currently lacks,” said Anjali Gopalan, head of All Creatures Great and Small, an animal welfare NGO.

“The only way to manage the stray dog population is to stabilize it through sterilization and vaccination. Bites and rabies will rise if authorities move sterilized and vaccinated dogs from their territory. Unvaccinated dogs will move in, and public health will suffer,” Gopalan told DW.

Is there a better solution?

Bharati Ramachandran, CEO of FIAPO, said that mass sheltering of healthy, vaccinated dogs is both impractical and inhumane.

She explained that the court order contradicts global public health guidance. She also noted that ABC rules require sterilized and vaccinated community dogs to return to their original territories after treatment.

“We are still studying the order to decide our future course of action,” she added.

Activists warn that removing sterilized dogs will allow unsterilized dogs to move in, creating a “vacuum effect.”

“Rodent numbers rise when dogs are removed because dogs naturally help control them. Proper waste and garbage management reduces food sources for both stray dogs and rodents, helping to manage related risks,” said NGO leader Gopalan.

Animal rescue groups in Jaipur, the capital city of Rajasthan, have run ABC activities for a decade, cutting the roaming dog population by half. The share of puppies in the total dog population dropped from 19% to just 2%.

In Goa, the state government launched a mass canine immunization program against rabies, vaccinating about 70% of the dogs.

An app-based tracking system now directs vaccination teams more efficiently and tracks vaccination rates in real time. Similarly, a citywide survey in Bengaluru showed a nearly 10% drop in stray dog numbers.

“The formula is simple – sterilize and vaccinate dogs according to the law. Shut down illegal pet shops and breeders. Promote adoption from shelters and the street. It’s a sensible public-health policy that works,” said PETA’s Agrawal.

Ayesha Christina Benn from Neighbourhood Woof, a dog welfare NGO, warned that Delhi’s dog control order could cause harm.

“Scientifically speaking, this order can be disastrous. It will slow down sterilization rates. Authorities are implementing it in a kneejerk way. They use sterilization centers as boarding facilities instead of their intended purpose,” she told DW. “We are not equipped for long-term care. The city needs more public involvement for effective street dog management,” Benn concluded.