Delhi is gearing up to implement a massive change on its streets after the recent Supreme Court order to put all the street dogs into shelter homes after sterilising them. Relocating nearly 10 lakh street dogs from Delhi and NCR regions within an eight-week time, the preparations are already in motion to make the plan a reality.
The move has triggered many reactions from People to the Resident Welfare Associations to even the Bollywood celebrities. Where the Resident Welfare Associations have welcomed it, stating that it’ll make the societies and neighborhoods safer, Various Animal Rights groups and Bollywood celebrities have criticized the plan, arguing that the civic bodies do not have the resources to implement such a large-scale move, that they do not have the space, funds, or systems to carry out the the task. They’ve said that the move will create more problems than it’ll solve.
Amid all the back and forth, Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh has shown his support for the SC order. Speaking to ANI, he said that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi has all the resources and that they’re already underway to plan the execution of the Supreme Court directive.
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How Delhi Plans to Solve the Street Dog Problem
The Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh says that the removal of street dogs from the streets of Delhi will be carried out in phases rather than all at once. The first step involves identifying the dogs that are prone to biting and or are infected with rabies.
“We will implement the order in a phased manner. We will send those dogs first to shelter homes that are suffering from some disease,” Singh told ANI. “Later, we will focus on other stray dogs,” he added.
Part of the Plan is to convert the 20 existing sterilisation centres into dog shelters by the Delhi Municipal Corporation. It’s also planning to bring NGOs on board to manage the day-to-day operations. The Government of Delhi will also soon release a helpline, a step suggested by the SC.
The Mayor also revealed that they’re coordinating and planning with various agencies across the Delhi-NCR to create dog-free zones and scale up the sterilisation programs.
“CM Rekha Gupta never says no to any project, and she thinks about the public welfare. In the Shelter Homes, the dogs will be treated as pets,” Singh said.
The Delhi Government is also holding its meetings on the matter. Minister Kapil Mishra has emphasised that the execution will be done with compassion in mind.
“We are committed to the welfare of homeless animals. The court’s decision will remove obstacles in our path. We will implement it in a time-bound manner, keeping kindness, compassion, and humanity in mind,” Mishra said.
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Pushback from the Activists and Animal Lovers
As the Government of Delhi prepares to act on the SC’s order, animal rights activists and many dog lovers, as well as Bollywood celebrities, are voicing their strong opposition. Maneka Gandhi, a Veteran Animal Rights Activist, called the order “impractical” and “financially unviable”.
PETA India argued that the massive number of street dogs in Delhi makes the mass sheltering “simply impossible”, and if implemented, would likely lead to “very bad” living conditions. Animal rights groups say the SC order contradicts the 2023 ABC Rules, which require returning sterilised, vaccinated dogs to their territories. Critics and Veterinarians also warn that mass relocation could lead to overcrowding, neglect, and deteriorating animal health.
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Reconciling Safety and Welfare: The Path Forward
Earlier this week, while hearing a Suo Motu case on the surge in dog-bite incidents across the NCR, the Supreme Court mandated that authorities must bring all dogs into shelters, vaccinate, sterilise, and monitor them via CCTV. The government has ordered strict staffing measures and legal action against those obstructing the removal process. The court stressed the order prioritises public safety, especially for children, amid rising dog bites and rabies deaths.
In February 2024, a pack of stray dogs fatally mauled a two-year-old girl as she sat outside her home in Dhobhi Ghat, Tughlaq Lane. In June, a six-year-old from Rohini’s Pooth Kalan died of rabies weeks after a dog bite. As Delhi NCR moves to implement the SC directive, residents remain divided over balancing public safety with humane animal treatment. The coming weeks will test both the city’s administration and judiciary in balancing public safety with animal welfare laws.
