Delhi Stray Management Boost: Three New Shelters, 54,623 Dogs Sterilised

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will set up three new dog shelters to strengthen stray animal management and improve public safety. Work is currently in progress for a shelter in Dwarka, while two additional facilities have been proposed for Bella Road and Bijwasan, officials confirmed on Friday.

According to official data, the MCD has so far sterilised and immunised 54,623 stray dogs under the ongoing Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme.

MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar, while presenting the civic body's ₹16,530.50-crore budget for 2026-27, highlighted the new shelter plans during a post-budget media briefing. He said the move is part of a broader effort to strengthen sterilisation, vaccination, and sheltering processes-areas repeatedly flagged by the judiciary to balance public safety with animal welfare.

The announcement comes against the backdrop of the Supreme Court's recent focus on Delhi's stray dog issue. In August 2025, the court directed civic bodies to capture all stray dogs and keep them in shelters. About ten days later, the order was modified, allowing the release of sterilised and vaccinated dogs back into their original territories.

Meanwhile, the MCD has also approved a new policy imposing strict penalties on NGO-run ABC centres if rabies incidents or failed sterilisation cases occur within their allotted zones.

In addition to dog management, the MCD's "Important Achievements" data shows that 6,347 cattle have been impounded and moved to gaushalas, while 731 monkeys have been captured and relocated to the Asola Bhati Mines Wildlife Sanctuary.

These measures collectively aim to enhance stray animal control, improve urban safety, and ensure humane care across Delhi.