Stray Dog Management Plans in Delhi

Delhi Unveils Stray Dog Management Plan Amid Supreme Court Orders

Government Action

While the Gen Z Protests in Nepal took the world by storm, in Delhi it was the protests by animal lovers for the freedom of stray dog that garnered the attention of the entire country. One of the hot news items today was the Delhi Government’s announcement regarding stray dogs.

Over the next two years, the Delhi Government plans to microchip about 1 million (10 lakh) street dogs. The plan also includes a rabies action plan, a registry for pet shops, and a dog census and monitoring system. There will be 3-4 feeding centers for dogs in every ward, identified in coordination with the local councillor. The plan also includes stricter monitoring of pet shops, more staff for the Delhi Animal Welfare board, and an awareness program in schools.

Court Order and Public Response

On August 11th, the Supreme Court (SC) directed that stray dogs in Delhi-NCR be captured and sent to shelters, not returned to the streets. According to reports, this was after media reports of a rise in rabies cases, especially among children. Some reports say there are 1 million stray dogs in Delhi, and 52.5 million in India.

People protest

However, there were protests from animal welfare groups and logistical critiques, which led the SC to modify its earlier order on August 22. The new order allowed stray dogs to be released back to the same area after vaccination and sterilization, with the exception of rabid or aggressive dogs. It also made it mandatory to have designated feeding zones for the dogs.

Court Orders

The central government said that stray dog management falls under the purview of state governments and local municipal bodies. It also noted that Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023, provide the legal framework for humane stray dog management. According to reports the Indian government said in April that nearly 430,000 cases of dog bites reported across the country in January, compared with 3.7 million cases throughout 2024.

Animal welfare groups objected strongly to the initial “all-strays to shelters” plan and raised concerns about cruelty, logistics, and shelter overcapacity. Protests and petitions played a role in pushing the SC to modify the order. The modified verdict also required designated feeding areas in municipal wards and prohibited feeding stray dogs on streets except in those designated zones. The verdict also directed using signboards or gantries to mark feeding areas.

“We need mass vaccination & mass sterilization — the only humane, proven ways to reduce conflicts,” Vidit Sharma, founder of animal welfare organization Save A Stray, said on X.

Earlier Developments

The initial news that led to today’s stray dog announcement is almost 45 days old, which is five multiples of nine days. On July 31, 2025, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) announced a month-long pilot program, starting August 5, to sterilize and vaccinate stray dogs in 12 assembly constituencies. The plan also includes new kennels for aggressive dogs and additional shelter facilities.