New Delhi's efforts to control its stray dog population have experienced dramatic ups and downs over the last five years. Fresh data from the Delhi government's urban development department reveals this rollercoaster pattern.
A Five-Year Journey of Highs and Lows
From 2021 to 2025, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi sterilized and vaccinated more than 4.3 lakh stray dogs against rabies. The program achieved its peak performance in 2024 alone, treating a record 1.3 lakh dogs.
The journey began in 2021-2022 with 91,326 dogs receiving the procedure. The following year witnessed a steep decline. Numbers plummeted to 57,076 in 2022-2023, marking a sharp drop of nearly 38 percent.
A recovery followed in 2023-2024, with 79,959 dogs treated. Then came the biggest leap. In 2024-2025, a staggering 1,31,137 dogs underwent sterilization and vaccination. This represented a massive year-on-year increase of about 64 percent, setting the highest output for the entire five-year period.
Current Year Shows a Moderate Slowdown
The current financial year, 2025-26, tells a different story so far. From April to November, approximately 68,000 dogs were treated. This averages to 8,551 dogs per month.
This monthly figure is lower than the previous year's average of 10,928 dogs per month. While the total is lower partly because it covers a shorter period, the monthly averages indicate the program's pace has moderated.
Officials explain that the catch-sterilize-vaccinate-release operations naturally slow during extreme weather. Intense summer heat and heavy monsoon rains can stress the animals. These conditions also complicate surgical procedures and recovery times.
"By the end of the financial year, the number for 2025-26 is likely to increase significantly," said an official. "Sterilization and vaccination efforts are going on throughout the city."
The Legal Framework Driving the Program
The entire operation operates under the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Rules, 2023. These rules fall under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. They mandate local authorities to use sterilization and anti-rabies vaccination as the primary, humane method for population control.
The rules place clear responsibility on municipal bodies. They must ensure dogs are captured, sterilized, vaccinated, and ear-notched for identification. After recovery, the dogs are safely returned to their original locations.
NGOs and Infrastructure on the Ground
Under the Act, 20 sterilization centers run by NGOs operate across the city. These are the facilities where the procedures take place.
In 2024, these centers handled an average of about 6,550 dogs each. That breaks down to roughly 18 dogs per center every day. So far in 2025, the daily average has dipped slightly to about 14 dogs per center.
The NGOs also conduct periodic anti-rabies awareness drives. They involve members of Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) in these efforts. Furthermore, the MCD runs a dedicated helpline, 155305, for reporting dog bite cases in the city.
Future Plans and Unknown Challenges
Officials indicate that stray dog management is set for a major upgrade. The Delhi government's plans to microchip the animals are in an advanced stage.
In September last year, Development Minister Kapil Mishra made an announcement. He stated that nearly 10 lakh street dogs across Delhi would be microchipped over the next two years. This project is a collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
This initiative is part of a broader push to strengthen rabies control and improve dog population management. Mishra also said the government would prepare a comprehensive state action plan against rabies. The goal is to effectively check dog bite cases.
However, a significant challenge remains. The total number of stray dogs in Delhi is still unknown. The MCD has never carried out a comprehensive survey to establish this baseline figure.
