Addressing Stray Dog Issue in New Delhi: Strategies for Management
The Supreme Court of India has revised its earlier order on managing stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, now directing that sterilised, vaccinated, and dewormed stray dogs should be released back into their original localities rather than relocated to shelters—except for those infected with or suspected of rabies or showing aggressive behavior[1].
This approach aligns with the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, which mandate releasing treated stray dogs back to their original areas. The modified order aims to provide a more balanced, humane, and sustainable solution to managing stray dogs in Delhi, focusing on health, safety, and ecological responsibility without resorting to mass sheltering.
Alternative, practical, and humane solutions to mass sheltering based on this ruling include:
- Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR): This method involves sterilising, vaccinating, and deworming the dogs, then returning them to their communities. It controls the population gradually and maintains the ecological balance without causing the distress that relocation or mass sheltering creates[1].
- Targeted removal only of rabid or dangerously aggressive animals: This avoids unnecessary displacement of healthy dogs and focuses resources on managing public safety risks with minimal harm to animals[1].
- Community engagement and awareness: Encouraging local communities to coexist with sterilised stray dogs and promoting responsible waste management, which reduces food availability and thus the stray dog population growth.
- Improving urban infrastructure for cohabitation: Creating dog-friendly zones or working with municipal bodies to manage habitat spaces that reduce stray-human conflicts can be part of a holistic strategy.
The Supreme Court emphasized that blanket removal orders without evaluating shelter infrastructure are impractical and can result in a "catch-22" situation, pointing toward a need for integrated, environment-sensitive, and humane management approaches rather than large-scale removal and confinement[1].
However, the directive for stray dogs to be removed from the streets of Delhi within two months has sparked controversy. Critics argue that it is logistically improbable for authorities to set up shelters and resources on a scale envisaged by the top court, and dozens of protesters were arrested on Tuesday in response to the directive.
Animal rights activists argue that the Supreme Court order contravenes animal birth control (ABC) rules calling for the sterilization, vaccination, and return of dogs to their territories. They suggest a practical public-health policy that includes sterilizing and vaccinating dogs, closing illegal pet shops and breeders, and encouraging adoption from shelters and the streets.
In contrast, cities like Mumbai have a focus on taking care of street dogs, and initiatives in places like Goa have seen success with a mass canine immunization program aided by an app-based tracking system, achieving around 70% vaccination coverage of its dog population. The ABC program in Jaipur, Rajasthan has reportedly halved the roaming dog population. A city-wide census in Bengaluru showed stray dog numbers decreased by nearly 10%.
The estimated stray dog population in Delhi is between 800,000 to 1 million, and the municipal corporation of Delhi operates just 20 animal control centers with a combined capacity for less than 5,000 dogs. The Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, has said he will "look into" the order.
As the deadline for the directive approaches, it remains to be seen how authorities will implement the modified approach and address the concerns raised by critics and activists alike.
- The revised order by the Supreme Court of India, focused on managing stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, reflects a policy-and-legislation strategy that leans toward humane, sustainable, and balanced solutions, such as the Catch-Neuter-Vaccinate-Release (CNVR) method and community engagement.
- The ongoing debate surrounding the Supreme Court's directive for stray dogs to be removed from the streets of Delhi within two months underscores the need for a politically profound understanding of general-news issues, like the practicality of implementing large-scale shelters and resources in accordance with the directive's requirements.
