In a significant move to manage the capital's stray dog population and address public safety concerns, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has inaugurated a specialized shelter for aggressive canines. The facility, located at the NDMC veterinary hospital in Moti Bagh, is equipped to house up to 30 dogs simultaneously and represents a focused approach towards handling dogs with problematic behaviour.
Comprehensive Strategy for Stray Management
This initiative is part of a broader, multi-pronged strategy enacted following Supreme Court directives. A cornerstone of this plan is the establishment of 100 designated feeding points across NDMC's 14 circles. These spots, covering major markets, parks, religious sites, and residential colonies, were finalized in consultation with Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs), market associations, and local residents to minimize conflict.
To streamline grievance redressal, the civic body has mandated the appointment of nodal officers by institutions, hospitals, and office complexes for all stray dog-related complaints. The scale of the challenge is underscored by a recent 2024 dog census conducted by NDMC, which found approximately 10,000 stray dogs in its jurisdiction. Encouragingly, nearly 90% of these strays have already been sterilized.
Expansion of ABC Drives and Digital Initiatives
Building on the census data, the council has intensified its Animal Birth Control (ABC) programs. In a parallel development, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) reported sterilizing 68,408 stray dogs between April and November 2025. Plans are also underway to construct additional kennels at five ABC centres located in Bijwasan, Bela Road, Usmanpur, and two facilities in Rohini.
In a step towards digital governance, NDMC is developing an online portal to simplify pet dog registration. This portal will handle the entire process, including licence fee payments. "The portal will provide details of dog breeds registered with NDMC, along with their numbers and other information. Currently, we have 722 pet dogs registered with us," stated an official.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Infrastructure
The approach is collaborative, involving both civic agencies and non-governmental organizations. In a recent operation, MCD captured 25 dangerous strays from Najafgarh following repeated complaints from areas near health centres and colleges. These dogs were relocated to a facility managed by the Sonadi Animal Care Centre, an NGO that created special space for aggressive dogs.
"If situations arise, we will create a few kennels in other shelters for keeping aggressive dogs," an official noted. The relocated dogs will stay at the shelter for life or until their behaviour improves during observation. Looking ahead, MCD is working on developing a permanent shelter in Dwarka with a capacity for 1,500 aggressive dogs.
Furthermore, MCD has identified 735 stray dog feeding locations across its 250 wards and is installing signboards at these sites. To address another urban challenge, the corporation has formed two dedicated teams for daytime and night-time to handle complaints concerning cattle on highways, link roads, and major arterial roads.
