Delhi Lacks Shelter Infrastructure as SC Orders Relocation of Stray Dogs
Supreme Court orders relocation of stray dogs in Delhi-NCR, but NGOs warn of inadequate shelter capacity and lack of infrastructure.
Animal welfare groups warn Delhi lacks adequate shelters to relocate thousands of stray dogs after Supreme Court directive.
The Supreme Court’s recent directive to relocate stray dogs from the streets of Delhi-NCR to shelters has sparked concern among animal welfare groups, as the Capital faces a severe shortage of facilities to house thousands of strays.
Currently, most shelters in Delhi are run by NGOs partnered with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) for Animal Birth Control (ABC) sterilisation. These centres can accommodate only a few hundred animals each, leaving nonprofits unsure how to comply with the court order.
An official from Animal India Trust, which operates a sterilisation centre in South Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar, called the order “unfortunate” and questioned its feasibility.
“From where will the MCD arrange funds when all they’ve been giving us is ₹1,000 per stray—from capture to release after spaying?” the official said, adding that their facility can only house 400 dogs and perform about 100 surgeries a month.
The last official dog census in Delhi was conducted in 2016, and NGOs say a fresh survey is urgently needed. They also stress the importance of public awareness campaigns, pointing out that “a dog never bites without provocation.”
Sonadi Charitable Trust founder Bandana Sen Gupta, whose Najafgarh centre can shelter 360 dogs but currently houses 100, fears the order could overwhelm existing facilities.
“What will we do if 20-25 dogs show up at once? Many already call me expressing fear. Sick and healthy dogs cannot be kept together safely,” she said.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) operates two veterinary hospitals and two ABC centres with nonprofit partners, though one centre is currently closed. NDMC officials claim no rabies cases have been reported in the city this year.
Animal welfare groups warn that without proper infrastructure, funding, and planning, the SC directive may be unworkable both in the short and long term.
