Only 8 shelters in Mumbai, none in Delhi !

Ground reality of the Supreme Court’s directive to house stray dogs in shelters

New Delhi – Although the Supreme Court has directed that stray dogs across the country be sterilised and vaccinated before being housed in shelters, the reality is that Mumbai has only 8 shelters, while Delhi has none.

Sterilisation is essential

Even if Mumbai were to remove only 30 to 40 per cent of stray dogs from public places, shelters would still be needed for around 40,000 dogs. A single pair of dogs can produce up to 20 puppies a year, making sterilisation crucial to control their population. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been implementing a sterilisation programme since 1984.

Negligence by large States

Despite the Supreme Court’s directions, many major States continue to ignore the issue. Delhi alone has over 8 lakh stray dogs but not a single shelter. Haryana, with 2.75 lakh dogs, has 90 shelters. Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Jharkhand have none. In Madhya Pradesh, official figures are unavailable; however, it is estimated that Bhopal city alone has around 1.5 lakh stray dogs.

Incidents of dog bites

In the last one and a half years, Uttarakhand has reported 2.14 lakh dog bite cases. Himachal Pradesh has around 56,000 stray dogs, yet no arrangements for their shelter. Even in Uttarakhand, there are no shelters in any district; however, Dehradun, Haridwar, and Haldwani have animal birth control centres where dogs are caught and sterilised.

Shelter regulations and challenges

The average lifespan of a dog is 12 to 15 years. A senior BMC official stated that under the Supreme Court’s order, sterilisation is mandatory before dogs are sent to shelters. Additionally, shelters must have veterinarians, caretakers, and arrangements for food and water. To ensure proper implementation of the Court’s directive, strict monitoring and sincere efforts are essential in Mumbai.

Role of animal welfare activists

Animal welfare activists argue that removing stray dogs is only a temporary solution. Dogs are highly territorial — when removed from one area, others quickly occupy it. Keeping healthy strays confined in small shelters causes them distress. They insist that the true solution lies not in removal but in running an effective sterilisation programme.